Terry Casey will continue to run Maidstone United as a business after criticising Margate’s big-spending ways.

Blues were expected to win the Ryman League Premier Division following huge investment from owner Bob Laslett last summer.

But they’ve had to settle for a play-off place despite a wage bill rumoured to be more than £20,000 a week.

Stones have triumphed living within their means and that approach won’t change in Conference South, due to be renamed National South next season.

Co-owner Mr Casey said: “We’re not going to go down the route of Margate, who have allegedly spent £2million on players’ wages since the new man went in there and yet they’re still changing in Portakabins.

“We’ll spend within our means and our budget next year will be reasonable, a sensible amount of money, according to our crowds and income and support.

“That won’t change. Our culture and ethos remain the same.

“What Margate have done is almost distorted the whole league because by the ludicrous amount of money they pay their players, it just puts so much pressure on everybody else to try and match it.

“We’re not going to match it but one or two clubs have tried to buy their way out of this league and, as Margate can demonstrate, it doesn’t work.”

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