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Maidstone United boss John Still opens up on rebuilding plans

00:00, 07 March 2019

Big changes are on the way at Maidstone United as John Still sets about building a new side.

The club's head of football feels players may have had more chances than they deserve and says it wasn't possible to hand them a clean slate given their position in the National League drop zone.

He's not seen enough from certain players and already knows who he wants on board for next season, whatever division they're in.

Maidstone head of football John Still Picture: Andy Jones
Maidstone head of football John Still Picture: Andy Jones

Still said: "The team needs rebuilding and it's obvious it needs rebuilding.

"I'm not pointing fingers in any direction and I really do mean that because everyone does the job their own way.

"From day one I've known we need to find some players that can help push the club forward.

"We've started that in one respect with bringing Justin Amaluzor and Jake Embery in but we need quite a few more just to change the shape and character of the squad.

"We need recreate an atmosphere among the supporters and that's why it's nice to bring Jake in, who's local, and I think we have to look at those lower leagues.

"I actually know who can come on this journey.

"I know now who can come and who can't and I know who can start the journey but may not be able to finish it.”

Justin Amaluzor joined the Stones from Braintree Picture: Steve Terrell
Justin Amaluzor joined the Stones from Braintree Picture: Steve Terrell

If players can't perform under the pressure of a relegation scrap, they are unlikely to be what Maidstone need under Still's plans.

He added: "When a manager goes into a football club, under normal circumstances, people say it's a clean slate.

"I didn't say it was a clean slate. What I said is I will give everyone a chance but it can't be for long, we haven't got long enough.

"With the greatest respect, you've got to do it now or you're not going to do it.

"If you can't do it now, that's going to tell me you can't play under pressure.

"Where I want to take the club, you're going to be playing under pressure because I want to be successful.

John Still and head coach Hakan Hayrettin want smiles on faces at Maidstone Picture: Andy Jones
John Still and head coach Hakan Hayrettin want smiles on faces at Maidstone Picture: Andy Jones

"I can't turn round and say you've got two or three weeks, I need to see it now, you have to show me where you are now, and that's exactly what I said when I came in.

"I wasn't bullish about it and I didn't use it as a threat, I said I'm just telling you where you are in your careers.

"Your performances and the team's performances tell me this is why you are where you are in the league.

"So for me to say everyone's got a clean slate, it's not possible.

“I was pretty straight with them.

"I said I'm not going out tomorrow and getting six or seven players, we can't do that, so in effect you're going to get more of a chance than perhaps you deserve.

"But don't turn round in five or six weeks' time and say I haven't had a chance because you definitely will have had a chance.

Jake Embery comes on for his Maidstone debut at Solihull Picture: Steve Terrell
Jake Embery comes on for his Maidstone debut at Solihull Picture: Steve Terrell

"I managed here before and took the club into the Football League, so it means something to me.

"I look back to 1989, when we won the Conference, and I can see it clearly away at Kidderminster making three blocks on the trot when we had a great win there, 6-3.

"They're my memories and for people not to react and play like that, it hurts me.

"All these players here have to live up to that attitude.

"Not that ability, ability's different.

"At the moment I haven't seen too many of those and I'm not talking out of turn because I'm honest, I tell people you're not showing enough here to support a football club that wants to go forward."

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