Steve Watt will miss the first two games of the season through suspension following an FA hearing into improper conduct.

The Maidstone defender was charged after confronting the referee who sent him off against Folkestone in March.

He accepted the charge and was also fined at a Wembley hearing.

Stones boss Jay Saunders said: “We were worried he’d miss the play-offs at first but the hearing was put back.

“He’ll miss the first couple of games next season but they were quite lenient with him.

“He’d never been sent off before and they took his good record into account.”

Watt’s suspension means Graeme Andrews and Jerrome Sobers are likely to start the season in central defence.

Andrews this week took a pay cut to stay at the Gallagher Stadium.