George Elokobi’s commitment to his Maidstone United players goes way beyond the training ground.

Boss Elokobi has made a point of getting to know the squad as individuals away from football.

By learning about them as people, it helps get the best out of them on the pitch.

Maidstone have made a promising start to the National League South season following relegation, taking seven points from 12.

“There’s always room for education,” said Elokobi.

“We keep learning about our players, not so much the ones we’ve retained but the additions we’ve made.

“We have to know them, it’s important as a manager I get to know these players more.

“I get to know them not as footballers but as normal human beings and then, if I know them better, we can help them and learn what makes them tick. It’s a huge part of the game.

“It’s not just about being footballers, it’s about what are their aspirations, their motivations, where do they want to head?

“When you know that, and you know their families as well, it’s important.

“It’s a family environment and that’s the environment I’m creating at Maidstone United Football Club.

“We are a family, we are not just normal footballers that come in and train and go home.

“We like to know a bit more about them and I’m getting closer on that.

“Football is a small bubble. Outside of football, they’ve got their lives, they’ve got their families and it’s important we recognise that.

“I’m a big, big promoter for that.

“It’s important for me to ensure we keep knowing each other and keep learning about each other because then it becomes easier when it comes to coaching and improving them as players.”

On the pitch, Elokobi and his coaching staff have been building a picture of the squad since reporting back for pre-season.

He’ll rotate the side as he sees fit, depending on what’s required for each game.

It’s an approach that may come into play as Maidstone face two games in three days over the Bank Holiday weekend.

They play a fourth successive away game at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday before facing Taunton at the Gallagher on Monday (both 3pm).

Elokobi said: “We’ve got a squad that I trust in, that I believe in, that’s allowed me to rotate as much as we see fit in terms of the game we are facing.

“Certain individuals complement other certain individuals within the squad and that’s important.

“We know the squad’s strengths, we know our limitations within our squad so we look at the games as they come and decide what personnel we want to deploy to start the game and what personnel we want to have on the bench.

“First and foremost, you have to understand your players.

“You have to make sure there is clarity in understanding their strengths and their weaknesses and then it allows us to work and try to improve and develop our players.”

Maidstone impressed in a 1-1 draw at much-fancied Yeovil last weekend, where only a late goal denied them victory.

It confirmed a solid start to the season but Elokobi always wants more.

“I’m never satisfied but we’re OK at this moment in time,” he said.

“Obviously I’d have loved to have won every single game but that’s impossible in football.

“Coming from where we were at the end of last season, the rebuilding process is happening.

“Sometimes it takes time. As a manager, we all know you don’t have enough time and it’s a results-based business but I think we’re doing OK.

“It’s a good start in our opinion and we keep developing, we keep improving as a team and as a football club.”