Maidstone United manager George Elokobi ready for Barnet rematch as Gallagher Group extend stadium naming rights deal until 2032
05:00, 10 April 2023
Maidstone face FA Trophy conquerors Barnet this afternoon with boss George Elokobi expecting a different game.
The Bees are back at the Gallagher a matter of weeks after ending United’s Wembley hopes on penalties following a 2-2 draw in their last-eight clash.
Barnet are fifth in the National League and looking good for a play-off place, while the Stones are already down and on a 21-game winless streak.
Maidstone, whose last win came against Maidenhead at the end of November, are desperate to reward fans with at least one more victory in their final four games of the season.
Elokobi hopes today will be the day and won’t be getting hung up on the FA Trophy exit.
He said: “This is a completely different game and as a management team we have to look at Barnet’s strengths and weaknesses and make sure first we look at the availability of our squad to make sure everybody is right.
“From there, we’re going to select a team that will be able to compete against a good Barnet side.
“It will be good to be back at home, to play in front of our home fans and again this is a completely different game. We have to treat it completely different.
“We have to see what personnel Barnet are going to bring down to us as well but we know a little bit about them.
“We should be ready for their strengths, like we saw the last time.
“We’re going to respect the opposition and we’re going to prepare right.
"We were separated by penalties in the FA Trophy.
“This time it’s a league game but we have to look at how we perform.
“We’ve got some different personnel in our team so that’s why I’m saying it’s going to be a different game and a different approach from our side of things.”
Maidstone hope to have George Fowler available after he was taken ill on the way to the Good Friday game at Southend.
Meanwhile, the Stones have announced an extension of their stadium naming rights deal with the Gallagher Group until 2032.
The club say a "more favourable payment plan" will "assist efforts to build a strong squad for life in National League South next season".
Gallagher Group chairman Pat Gallagher said: "We are delighted to continue our support for Maidstone United and associate our company and family name with the club.
"Despite a difficult season, the club is a force for good in the town and the overall success since 2012 has been fantastic."
Stones co-owner Terry Casey said: "We are hugely grateful for the support of Pat and Stephen Gallagher and their colleagues in the Gallagher Group.
"They have stood with us since 2012 through thick and thin. Long may our partnership continue."
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