Maidstone boss Jay Saunders has expressed his disappointment at not having a home pre-season friendly.

Stones are looking for new opponents after Tuesday’s planned friendly against Horsham was called off due to Sittingbourne’s Bourne Park being unavailable.

Floodlight maintenance work is being carried out and Sittingbourne officials can’t guarantee it will be completed in time.

Saunders (pictured) said: "It’s a bit of a blow because it was our only home pre-season friendly and I hoped it would be an opportunity for my lads to get a feel for the place before we start.

"Bearsted have offered us a game there but we have played them already and I am waiting on a couple of other teams to come back before making a
decision."

He is expecting Stones’ toughest pre-season test when they travel to Blue Square Bet South newboys Tonbridge on Saturday and hopes to field his strongest side so far against Tommy Warrilow’s men at Longmead.

Youngster James Humphries is set to miss the start of the season with a foot injury, after an accident at work.

He missed the 2-1 defeat – Stones’ first pre-season loss – at Chatham on Tuesday night.