Simon Walton is looking forward to his new player-coach role at Maidstone United.

Walton will be part of the management team following talks with new boss John Still.

He said: "No one's got a crystal ball but it could be good.

"I know what it's like when new people come in, they like to have their own people around but the new manager seemed keen to have me on board and I think the club are still keen to have me on board.

"It's a good mix and I'm looking forward to it.

"I'm still a bridge between staff and players, which you need to be successful.

"Although there's been a change it does keep some continuity going at the same time.

"I'll still be around and I'll still be the same person that I have been since the minute I came in.

"Obviously there'll be a couple of new faces but hopefully I can keep doing my bit to help the club.

"I've always said I will always be who I am and what I am.

"I will never change or try and be something I'm not.

"If people don't like it, fair enough, I've got enough friends.

"But people seem to have warmed to it here and taken me on board and there seems to be a good vibe around it. Long may that continue."

Walton shared caretaker duties with Tristan Lewis following Harry Wheeler's exit last month.

At 31, it came earlier than the former Leeds midfielder expected but he won four of his seven games.

He said: "You just stumble into something sometimes.

"Again I'm not saying my ambition is to become a manager but it's certainly given me a taste of it and I think I've done OK.

"The record books show I've won four out of seven so that's not too bad."

Still's first game in charge will be at National League leaders Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Maidstone, second-bottom and six points from safety, have it all to do against Orient but Walton feels they are capable of an upset.

He said: "People from the outside might think I'm talking rubbish but these are the type of games I expect us to do well in.

"As the season's gone on, we've done well against big teams or when we've been the underdog, and performed well.

"When you go to Hartlepool and Barnet and win, and beat Orient at home in the FA Cup, you've got to take belief from that.

"The belief and confidence is still growing and with the new gaffer coming in, it'll give everyone a boost.

"If we play to our standards we can challenge anybody on our day."