John Still believes it will take eight games to see where Maidstone are at this season.

It's been a summer of change at the Gallagher Stadium with 16 players arriving and 13 leaving.

Head of football Still says it's impossible for every new signing to work out but they will be given time to show what they can do.

Maidstone start the new National South campaign at home to Southern League champions Weymouth on Saturday and Still said: "The season may take eight games to sort itself out.

"Teams who start slowly might pick up or teams who make a quick start might fall away.

"We'll look at where we are after eight games and I think that'll be an indication of where our season's at.

"I always say, let the season roll and your biggest influences, that's either your best player or your most organised player or your most disciplined player, will come to the fore.

"Someone I know well - I'm not going to name-drop - was playing Barcelona and he spoke about Lionel Messi.

"Messi's 5ft 7in but he said when he walked out he looked 6ft 2in because he had an aura about him.

"Sometimes you have to give people a chance to get that aura.

"I was an enthusiastic player and when I played I always felt the biggest influences were the not-so-quiet players who had that enthusiasm and drive.

"I look for that and also ability."

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Still, head coach Hakan Hayrettin and their scouts have worked hard to build a new squad.

Experienced heads such as George Elokobi, Gavin Hoyte and Jake Cole have been joined by talented youngsters.

Still said: "Pre-season is notorious for making you think you're not as good as you are, or not as bad as you are.

"I've been on both sides of the fence where I've had great pre-seasons and poor starts and vice-versa.

"Bedding everyone in has been hard but we've got improvement in us and, by and large, everyone has contributed.

"When you sign 16/17 players, they won't all work out. It's not possible.

"We'll work our socks off to get as many right as we can but knowing we may have to change one or two. That's life.

"Sometimes it's not down to the player, sometimes it's down to combinations. It doesn't mean they aren't a good player.

"The trick is recognising you've got it wrong and trying to change it.

"There's nothing wrong with a player coming to us saying they've not settled, the same as we might say to a player it isn't working out.

"It's better to be honest as opposed to letting it go and doing nothing about it.

"What I would say to supporters is don't judge players when they come in, judge them when they go and you can look back and say he was good or he wasn't so good."

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