Head coach Hakan Hayrettin felt Maidstone should have beaten Salford in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night.

It was clear the new management team's ideas are getting across and Hayrettin, in charge with John Still away, liked what he saw in the rearranged third-round tie.

He said: "We worked hard this week, we've only been together a week and we've asked certain questions of players.

"Every single one of them responded tonight.

"We didn't have a centre-forward but still I thought we were excellent, good value and we should have won.

"It's hard work, getting people to understand their jobs, getting people to understand their responsibilities.

"I'm a big believer in personalities and characters, once they respond and they gel together, that anything's possible.

"The work ethic is something we've tried to instil in a short space of time.

"We say this, me and John, how good a team you are is not when you've got the ball, it's when you haven't got the ball as well.

"We work very, very hard and anyone who was here would have seen we should have won the game clearly.

"But it's small steps in the right direction and I'm also a believer in good habits – we didn't lose – and we've got to continue that and try and build on it."

Still had to miss the game but knew the team were in safe hands with Hayrettin and player-coach Simon Walton.

Hayrettin said: "It was peaceful! I miss him, to be fair. It's no secret I've known him for a very, very long time.

"I played for him, I've worked for him, I've gone to him for advice for different bits and pieces over the years.

"He's a very knowledgeable man, he looks at things from different angles.

"I've spoken to him six times since he's been away and he's texted me as well tonight.

"We're not swaying away from the guidelines that have been set."

Maidstone welcomed striker Jake Cassidy back on Tuesday night, the Welshman rejoining on loan from Hartlepool for the rest of the season.

He's set to feature against Fylde this Saturday after Still and chief executive Bill Williams clinched a deal.

Hayrettin said: "John pushed it over the line with Bill which is good work by them so we’re slowly getting in the players we believe will help give us a good chance to bring some stability to this club.

“We know him, we’ve seen him play. He’s another man we needed along the way.

“He’s a big lad, an honest lad, a hardworking lad – like the other boys we’ve brought in.”