28th August 2007. 12.00pm

It's a difficult time for the Stones at the moment with no goals and no points to their name but joint manager Alan Walkeris hoping that fortunes will turnaround soon, starting tonight in our home game with Carshalton Athletic. He gives his latest interview in his regular column WALKS TALKS

Tonights squad sees the return of Rob Owen after he successfully made it through 90 minutes at Lordswood on Saturday. Ben Lewis will have to have a late fitness test tonight have injuring his calf in a challenge on Saturday. But after pulling out of Saturday's game, Sam Tydeman will be out of the squad having confirmed that he has a pulled hamstring.

If you can't make tonight's game there will be live text updates from the game, and for those who can't get near a computer, don't forget you can recive live SMS updates direct to you phone...click here for details.

Don't foget to register your vote for Saturdays Man of the Match. To vote simply send a text with the message VOTEMOM plus player SURNAME to 83831 (Vote costs 50p/message). The winner of the Hastings poll was Sam Tydeman.

26th August 2007. 1.10pm

Manager Lloyd Hume today announced an extra fixture for his side on Sunday 9th September. Maidstone United will be visiting High Halstow Cricket Club to play a 36 over per side game.

The game, which starts at 1pm will contain at least 90% Maidstone United players as Lloyd added "We may have to add one or two cricketers into the team to make sure that we don't get totally trounced!"

"This event will be a good opportunity for our supporters to come along and meet some of the players. The cricket club plan on having a barbecue at the game, so there should be some good food and a few drinks and a decent social atmosphere."

24th August 2007. 1.30pm

Stones joint-manager Alan Walker today announced that he had released both Simon Austin and Jason Barton from the squad.

Speaking to the website today Walker said; "I would like to put on record my thanks to both Jason and Simon, they have been a credit to the club as well as great servants and I wish them well in their future careers. Both players I regard as friends so making the decision was even more difficult, but we had a very large squad of 21 players and when you can only pick 16, we had to make some cutbacks, not only to save money but also to make the squad more manageable."

Both Jason and Simon have both enjoyed several years at the club going back to our days in the Kent League and have played a major part in our two successive promotions. Jason Barton was a regular feature both in defence and midfield for the Stones, whilst Simon Austin had a knack of scoring some great goals with perhaps his best remembered goal being the winner he scored in the FA Cup against Redbridge. We wish them all the best and thank them for everything they have done for the club.

Meanwhile looking ahead to this weekends game Alan Walker was pleased to be able to recall Lyndon Rowland to the squad to face Chelmsford on Saturday; "We've missed his workrate up front so it's great to have him back in the squad." said Walker. Also fully recovered is Mario McNish and Rob Owen is continuing his road to recovery and is hopeful of a return soon.

Finally, as usual, if you can't make Saturday's game there will be live text updates from the game, and if you can't get near a computer, Saturday also sees the launch of live SMS updates direct to you phone...click here for details

Users of our SMS News Update were first to hear this breaking news, if you wish to subscribe...click here

23rd August 2007. 4.30pm

Stones coach Peter Nott reported today that Ashley 'Butch' Ulph has just completed four days of training and assessment with England Schoolboys and out of 60 hand picked boys that attended he was selected to play in the game versus Newcastle Town at right back.

Butch already captains Kent Schoolboys and this is further proof of the superb quality of boys we have got coming through the ranks who could well be challenging hard for a first team place soon.

22nd August 2007. 9.30am

Lloyd Hume has rejected claims made by Horsham manager John Maggs that he abused deaf and mute striker Lee Farrell.

Maggs – who was sent to the stands by referee Grant Smith after confronting Hume at half-time – told Sussex paper the Argus that Hume had taken the mickey out Farrell's disability after a clash on the touchline.

He alleged Hume continually mimicked a grunting noise made by Farrell and Maggs says his club are taking the matter to the FA.

Hume has rejected the claims and given his version of events to Maidstone chairman Paul Bowden-Brown.

The chairman stressed how seriously the club treat abuse of any kind.
However, he is satisfied his manager has no case to answer.

He said: “Lloyd has given me a full and frank response to the allegations and I fully support his version of events. If Lloyd was guilty of this I wouldn’t need to sack him as he would resign himself.”

Hume said: “When John accused me of taking the mickey out of Lee my response was immediate and clear: 'I did not know he was deaf, I did not call him any names relating to this affliction. How could I, I didn't know he had an affliction'.

“I shook hands with Lee at the end of the game, congratulated him on his performance and assured him I had said nothing about his condition.”

21st August 2007. 10.30am

Stones go into tonight’s encounter with Hastings with two injury concerns. Rob Owen will definitely miss out on tonight’s game through injury, whilst Mario McNish will undergo a late fitness test, however looks a major doubt.

Manager Lloyd Hume said; “Last season we would have probably played Mario in a similar situation, but with the strength of the squad we have this season, we don’t need to take unecessary risks, so if we’re not 100% happy we won’t take that risk of further injury.”

“As for tonight’s game we know it will be another tough encounter with a side we did the double over last season. Like us they suffered an opening day defeat so will be anxious to get some points on the board. We know they are a resilient side but as ever, we know that if we play to our potential we can take the points.”

“We had them watched over pre-season and they have only made a few changes to their squad from last season, so we have a game plan in place and that will mean a few changes to Saturday’s starting line-up”

Don't forget, if you can't make the game, we'll have live score updates on the Official site throughout the evening.

20th August 2007. 8.30am

Portsmouth manager Harry Rednapp has signed for Maidstone United!

Admittedly it’s for one night only but the appearance of the popular Pompey boss as star guest at the club’s third sportsman’s evening on 8 November at the Oakwood House in Maidstone has already created enormous interest.

Joining Harry will be comedian Mickey Pugh and together they will provide an evening of conversation, entertainment and comedy.

Tickets are £50 a head, with a discount for tables of ten. Ticket prices include a superb three-course meal, plus supporting entertainment.

Maidstone United chairman Paul Bowden-Brown said: “Our sportsman’s evenings are always popular and with Harry Redknapp this evening is guaranteed to be a cracker and I expect it to be a sell-out.

“There’s no better way to entertain your clients, reward your staff or simply socialise with a few pals. Tickets for this special night are already selling fast, so please book your place as soon as possible.”

For more details or to book, please call Steve Fuller on 07727 054701 or 01732 222127.

14th August 2007. 9.30am

As Maidstone United Football Club prepare to start life in the Ryman Premier Division this weekend, chairman Paul Bowden-Brown is working with a potential investor in his quest to bring football home to Kent’s county town.

Halfway through the negotiation period, Bowden-Brown wanted to reassure supporters that he is committed and determined to end the 20-year absence from Maidstone and that if an agreement is reached, the stadium will be constructed in 20 weeks.

He said: “I find myself in a very delicate situation. In one respect I want to tell my supporters all that is going on, but I know that law prevents me from doing so at the moment.

“I have entered into a formal agreement with a company who have asked to carry out the usual business practice of ‘due diligence’. A period of three months was agreed, seven weeks have elapsed and I should have their decision by the middle of September.

“Under the agreement I cannot divulge the name of the company or any of the details involved.  All I can say is that, if agreed, the deal will see the development of the stadium over a 20-week period and help to secure the future of the club in the medium and long term.

“I had hoped to be in a position to build the ground myself over a three-year period.  However, I would not be in a position to access grant funding for a phased build and had to investigate other ways of raising the £1.5million to build the stadium in one hit.

“From the day I agreed to take over the club, I have been determined to bring the Stones home and although timescales have not been to mine or supporters’ liking, I will achieve this goal and bring a sporting venue that this town needs and deserves.”

13th August 2007. 9.10pm

Lloyd Hume was delighted to announce the signing of long term target Rob Owen on Monday evening. “Rob is a player that Alan Walker and I have been trying to sign for over a year now and to say that I’m delighted to have finally obtained his signature is a massive understatement."

29 year old midfielder Owen has played the majority of his career at Conference level. After leaving Gillingham as a youngster, Owen joined Sittingbourne as an 18 year old when The Brickies were at the height of their ‘money no object’ period. He then spent four years with Gravesend and Northfleet before moving to Welling United.

Last season he took a year out of the game to concentrate on developing his personal business interests but now feels that he is ready to come back to the game. “I’m really looking forward to playing again. I’ve kept myself very fit but I know that I’ll have to get my match sharpness back” said Owen.

“I know quite a few of the Maidstone players. I’ve played with Nick Hegley at Gravesend and I know Craig Roser and Sam Tydeman too. I’ve also played with Jimmy Strouts and Lee Shearer and of course, Lloyd Hume is also somebody that I know from back in the day.”

Rob Owen will make his first start in Stones colours in Tuesday evening’s pre-season friendly away to Bly Spartans (kick off 7pm).

8th August 2007. 5.00pm

The air of despondency that surrounded the dismissals of Ben Lewis and Sam Tydeman in our pre-season friendly at Fisher Athletic on 28 July has been lifted (albeit temporarily) by the news that the Football Association has deferred this disciplinary matter to county level. The FA consider any pre-season game between non league sides as a non competitive fixture for disciplinary purposes.

It was originally anticipated that both players would serve three match suspensions for their straight red cards with effect from the opening game of the season. However, following enquiries by the club to both the FA and the KCFA, it now appears that as the dismissals will be dealt with at county level, any suspension will not take effect until 3 September at the earliest.

Club Secretary Darren Lovell commented “This news now gives Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume the opportunity to use both Ben Lewis and Sam Tydeman in our opening five fixtures this season.”

“As a club, we will also now have the opportunity to seek a personal hearing for both players with regards to this incident. This is an option that was not available to the club through the FA’s disciplinary procedure. The county disciplinary procedure operates to different parameters to that of the FA and the club will use every opportunity available to it to minimise the effect of any possible suspension that either player may receive.”

7th August 2007. 2.15pm

Maidstone United Football Club have made a significant summer signing, adding respected youth development professional Damian Matthew to their backroom team.

Matthew, an Under-18 youth coach for Charlton Athletic Football Club, joins the Stones as a football development advisor. The role will be on a freelance basis and he will continue to work the Addicks. One of his key objectives will be to develop a programme of football activities and coaching sessions for young people in the Maidstone area.

Matthew said: "I'm very proud as a boy who developed through school and district football in Maidstone to be able to give time and experience to hopefully develop future footballers or coaches for Maidstone United. I remember watching the Stones at London Road and I'm sure once the excellent community and development programme is up and functioning it will be well supported by the local community.

"A big factor in the decision to help develop youth football in Maidstone was the people already in place - chairman Paul Bowden-Brown, general manager Bill Williams, youth chairman Mike Cogger and development officer Adrian Smith - and their belief and enthusiasm."

Chairman Bowden-Brown said: "It is a coup for us to bring someone of Damian's experience and professionalism to the club. Everyone is looking forward to working with him and learning from his considerable experience in this area of work.

"I'm determined that Maidstone United should play an active role in the local community and developing opportunities for young people to participant in the national game is very important to me and others at the club."

The club's youth development section is sponsored by Whitehead Monckton, one of the largest legal practices in Kent.

Managing partner Graham Jones said: "Whitehead Monckton is proud to be supporting Maidstone United's youth development section. The addition of Damian shows the club's commitment to the borough's young people and will take this area of work to another level."

4th August 2007. 8.30pm

Maidstone United under 15s have taken part in a tournament in Sweden. Manager Jim Hall reports.

"In the qualifying group we won 7-0, 2-0 and drew 1-1. We won our group table.

"We then went on to the play offs and met Broxburn, a Scottish team, and beat them 4-2 after extra time. From there we went on to the last 16 play offs meeting reigning world champions Kampala frrom Uganda.

"We completely outplayed them in the first half. We scored a goal - Ryan Hall outpaced the defence and put a great shot into the net. The referee gave it offside but an official on the TV camera showed us it was not offside as we suspected! Steve Brading missed an easy chance soon afterwards, Ryan Hall hit the post and made the keeper make and outstanding save. Early in the second half Scott Byers hit the bar with a header, but it was then that both our centre midfielders got injured. Brading came off and Cunningham struggled on. It was the end of our game plan which had worked so well. Kampala strode through our weakness and finished 3-0 winners.

"The coaches and players told us afterwards that Maidstone were the best team they had played and they thought they were going to be beaten, We had stopped them playing their passing game but injury took its toll.

"The following day we played Hamburg from Germany we beat them 5-1. This was only a friendly match but the boys showed on the park that they are going to be a strong unit next season."

2nd August 2007. 10.30pm

Maidstone United is considering running a bus service from the county town to Bourne Park on home matchdays.

Chairman Paul Bowden-Brown said : "I mentioned at the presentation evening that I was prepared to consider running a bus service to home matches. I was hoping to run the service with possible pick-up points at Larkfield, Allington, and the centre of Maidstone, Sittingbourne Road. I am open to suggestions, but it all depends on the proposed service being used to make the service viable, so if you'd support this service please contact the club office on 01732 222127."