Tristan Lewis left Maidstone on Tuesday after being told he wouldn't be part of the new management team.

Lewis joined United in September as Harry Wheeler's assistant and had been sharing caretaker duties with Simon Walton while the club searched for a new boss.

Lewis and Walton won three of their six games together in league and cup and changed the mood at the Gallagher after Wheeler's reign unravelled.

Walton, who took sole charge of the Kent Senior Cup tie at Dartford, said: "I can't speak highly enough of Tristan for what he's done for me personally these last few weeks.

"Obviously he's got more experience at this side of the game than I have and he's been a massive help.

"For the club, he had a 50% win ratio while he was here so we did all right together and I've thanked him and I know a lot of the lads are grateful for what he did and they'll miss him.

"Unfortunately, as I've said before, it's a harsh world is football and as footballers we get paid to do a job and you've got to move on.

"But I can't speak highly enough of him and how he's looked after me, and how he's looked after the club as well.

"To win three out of the six games is quite an achievement considering we were where we were.

"We'd be unrealistic to say we ever thought it was going to be long-term.

"I think we surprised a lot of people by how well we'd turned it around and how the lads seemed to be enjoying it and thriving.

"We set out to do that and results will always come when that happens."