Co-owners Terry Casey and Oliver Ash have agreed a deal to sell Maidstone United.

The pair have accepted an offer from local businessman and lifelong Stones fan Alan Manchett to sell their controlling interest.

Maidstone revealed on Friday they were in talks with potential investors and things have moved quickly, with the Manchett deal announced this evening.

Ash and Casey, who will remain involved in the running of the club "at least in the short term" expect the takeover to be completed by early next month.

In a statement, they said: "The directors of Maidstone United Football Club can confirm they have accepted an offer to sell a controlling interest in the club to a local businessman Alan Manchett.

"Alan is a lifelong supporter of the club and for the past two seasons his company Manchett Group has been one of its main business partners.

"Alan has a clear vision and ambition for the club that underpin not only long term security but also a desire to return in due course to the EFL.

"Alan is interested in long term projects, such developing the infrastructure of the Gallagher Stadium but has also committed to helping the club attempt to avoid relegation from the National League this season.

"The transaction is still subject to contract and other formalities both legal and financial that have to be completed.

"Both Alan and the current co-owners, who will remain involved in the running of the club at least in the short term, are very motivated to get the deal over the line, hopefully by early February."

Casey and Ash completed their takeover of Maidstone from Paul Bowden-Brown in 2010.

They returned the club to the county town after a 24-year absence when the Gallagher Stadium, built at a cost of £2.9m, opened in 2012 with a high-profile friendly against Brighton.

It was the start of a golden age for the Stones, who went on to achieve three promotions in four seasons under Jay Saunders, reaching the National League in 2016.

The co-owners were also trailblazers for 3G, winning what many had seen as an impossible fight to get the surface accepted in the higher echelons of non-league.

The club's 3G model has proved a huge success, with Maidstone reporting profits every year since the Gallagher opened.

Casey and Ash also funded extensions to the stadium as United climbed through the leagues.

They doubled the size of the main stand after winning the Isthmian Premier title and built the Genco Stand following promotion to the National League, as capacity steadily increased from 2,226 to 4,200.