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Sport

Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin certain his side will stay up this season

By: Craig Tucker ctucker@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 28 October 2022

Updated: 13:25, 28 October 2022

Hakan Hayrettin is certain Maidstone will stay in the National League and will work harder than ever to make it happen.

It’ll be two months to the day since United last won a game when they face fellow strugglers Yeovil at home tomorrow.

Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin. Picture: Helen Cooper

The Glovers are also in the bottom four and yesterday sacked manager Chris Hargreaves, with ex-Forest Green boss Mark Cooper named as his successor.

For all the doom and gloom that comes with a nine-match winless run, Maidstone are only two points from safety.

And Hayrettin, whose side won three of their opening six games after promotion as National South champions, is convinced they will be fine this season.

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“We won’t get relegated,” said the Stones boss.

“I’m telling you now, by hook or by crook, we will stay up.

“We’ll get through this and we will stay in the league and I’ll be working harder than ever to make it happen.

“I’m not fazed by the challenge one bit. I’ve been in this situation before and no doubt I’ll be in it again.

“I’ll be working hard, with my management team, to make sure we turn this around for the supporters.

“They’re not going to see a different Hak. I’m still going to have the fire in my belly and the determination.

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“My job is to get the boys up and at it again and that’s what I’m going to do.

“I don’t think we’re a million miles away.

“No one could question the effort and endeavour against Southend (3-0 defeat on Tuesday), it’s mistakes that have cost us that game.

“We can’t compete financially with some of the teams in this league but I’ll get the boys ready as best I can.

“I can’t stop players making mistakes once we’ve given them the information but they’re giving me everything they’ve got - everything - and everybody has to be united to do this.

“There is harmony but I’ve got to do my job and I’m not always going to be, ‘Well done, unlucky’ to the players, sometimes I’m going to be wagging my finger and letting people know when they haven’t done their job.

“That’s football. That’s my job as a manager.”

Hayrettin has been boosted by messages of support on social media as he works to bring Maidstone out of their slump.

Win tomorrow and they could finish the day outside the bottom four.

“Every game is a big game,” he said.

“We need to get back to winning at home, like we were at the start of the season. We need to push and find a way to win.”

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