More than 200 people gathered for Maidstone United's summer party on Thursday night to celebrate a successful 2014-15 campaign and herald the start of the new season.

The new kit was launched, while directors Terry Casey, Oliver Ash and Bill Williams addressed the crowd, before fans were treated to a video interview with Williams and manager Jay Saunders, put together at the end of the season.

Fans then got the opportunity to ask questions of the directors and the manager and some of his assembled squad.

The main topic of conversation from the directors' point of view was the ongoing stand expansion work.

Casey admitted: "Everything is going according to plan, we're really pleased with the way it's gone. They've slipped a little bit behind schedule but they've got strategies to catch up.

"Their finish date is the sixth or the seventh [of August] so we'll be here all night on that Friday cleaning, stocking the bars and everything else if we have a home game on the eight!

"It's been in the planning for quite some time and there's no way we're not going to be ready for the first game, everyone will be in their seats and it will be business as usual.

"Like a lot of building projects they start quite slowly then all of a sudden there's real progress and visible evidence it's going to take off and we're all really excited. Every seat is sold which vindicates our decision to invest a bit more money and we've just got to do everything on the pitch to make it all worthwhile."

The capacity is due to increase to 3,054, but there are concerns over segregation issues should a big game be scheduled early in the season (the fixtures are released at 1pm) if other work is not completed.

Casey added: "The capacity will be ready but segregation won't be ready, we can't do segregation until certain walkways and stairways and stuff is finished.

"We'll have a capacity of 3,000, but we won't be able to segregate areas off until we do a little bit more work. We've asked the league if they can delay the derbies and the high profile games until a bit later in the season and they said they would be co-operative."

Casey is now looking forward to the season's start, if only to "relax" a bit.

He finished: "I'll be glad when the building work is finished and everyone is sat down in their seats, I can relax then and start worrying about the football!"

 

maidstoneandmedwaynews.co.uk

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