MAIDSTONE United have secured a high-profile friendly with Gillingham on Tuesday, March 12, to boost their revenue as they run out of home games this season. The match has been arranged by Maidstone coach Steve Butler, a former player and coach at Priestfield, who says Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler has promised to bring his first team to Central Park.

Maidstone have only four home league and cup matches remaining and Butler and chairman Paul Bowden-Brown are hoping for a crowd of several thousand for the match against the Nationwide Division 1 side who are without a game that week.

"This is all about getting money into the club by attracting as many people as possible to what should be a fantastic occasion because of the history between the two sides," said Butler. "With only 16 clubs in the Kent League this season there are a lack of midweek games which puts financial pressure on the chairman, especially at this stage of the season."

The last time Stones played a Gillingham first team was on March 21, 1992 in Football League Division 4 when the two sides drew 1-1 in front of a crowd of 3,264 at Dartford's Watling Street ground.

Meanwhile, Maidstone are also close to confirming glamorous pre-season games against Tottenham, Charlton, Huddersfield and Brighton, managed by Butler's former Leicester City and Gillingham boss and ex-Stones player Peter Taylor.

In another move to raise money Bowden-Brown will announce details of a share issue in the next few months and he wants local businessmen and supporters to invest in the club.

Extra money is needed to fund the Stones' Bass Brewers Kent League title push this season and the proposed stadium at James Whatman Way. The final design for the new ground should be completed by the second week of March.