Jay Saunders says he wants to take Maidstone into the Football League after Harry Redknapp backed him for the Leyton Orient job.

Redknapp recommended the Stones manager in a radio interview after the League 2 club sacked Andy Hessenthaler this week.

Saunders was flattered to be linked having led Maidstone into the National League with three promotions in four seasons and he’d love to be a Football League manager one day – with United.

Saunders, 37, said: “It’s always nice to get a mention because obviously you’re doing something OK.

“As a manager, you want to go as high as you can. It’s great that we’ve been able to come through the leagues and you’re learning all the time.

“I’m still young, I’m ambitious, I’d love to get this club into the Football League. That would be amazing.”

Saunders believes there are young National League managers capable of stepping up, such as Lincoln’s Danny Cowley. But having never played in the Football League, he accepts it would be difficult to land a job with fans demanding high-profile appointments.

He said: “There’s definitely a lot of talent out there, it’s just a chairman being brave enough. Let’s get it right, if a club appointed someone from non-league then fans are going to ask questions.

“They all want big names and clubs want big names and it’s always going to be the case.

“Clubs will look at whether people have played in the Football League. I don’t think you need to but people are always going to disagree."