Pic: Edmund Boyden
JAY SAUNDERS says Maidstone United‘s debut season in the National League has taught them valuable lessons – and believes training during the day next year can make a big difference.
Having already secured their Step 1 status, the final day defeat to Tranmere Rovers meant their fine run of end-of-season form included just two defeats in 14 games.
It’s a run that has pushed Saunders’ side – who won promotion through the National League South play-offs – into the top half.
Before taking on Lincoln in their penultimate game, Saunders had a three-hour meeting with the club’s hierarchy about next season.
They will switch away from training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and with large ground upgrading projects complete – including a new stand and a new 3G pitch – allow the manager more room in his playing budget.
“We’re making the transition to daytime training,” Saunders told The NLP. “I think that’s important in this league. It makes it better getting players from league clubs, especially. I remember before we got Joe Piggott on loan from Cambridge and it’s, ‘What days do you train?’ When you say, ‘It’s evenings,’ people are a bit shocked by it. So certainly for league clubs it makes it a lot easier.
Crazy
“Realistically you need to be signing players from that level or a similar level to what you are. It’s hard to bring lads in from lower leagues. You get one or two, but the majority want to be in daytime training.
“At the moment we’re looking at a Monday-Wednesday-Thursday, but that may change. It will have to work around the Academy. We’ve got 80 boys at the Academy so we’ve got to put some changing rooms in under the new stand to make it all work.
“But I think it’s the right way for us. You can also see the fitness levels between us and other teams. We’re two nights a week so it’s tough to get to that level Lincoln showed against us.
“It will be good for us. A lot of planning goes into it – there’s a lot of work behind the scenes. But we’re looking forward to it. It’s exciting times for the club.”
Saunders has led Maidstone to three promotions in four years following the move to their Gallagher Stadium. Now, he says the last nine months have been a learning curve with how they approach players’ fitness and deal with increased travelling in a national division.
“As a club, everyone realises the level we’re at and where we need to improve,” Saunders said. “It was a good chat to have with the owners this week. We all want the same things.
“I know it’s crazy, but at the start of this season I said I wanted a top-half finish. We had that struggle and overcame it. Next year we’d like to be more realistic to get there comfortably.
“You have to build and it won’t be easy. It doesn’t work just by bringing in a few better players.”
