Dover v Maidstone

Thousands of pounds have been shaved off Maidstone United’s wage bill after the players agreed to take pay cuts for eight weeks.

It is the latest step in a line of cost-cutting measures following chairman Paul Bowden-Brown’s decision to put the club up for sale earlier this month.

But Maidstone joint-manager Lloyd Hume said: “What’s happening off the field has galvanised the players on it.

“The togetherness in the dressing room has to be seen to be believed because every player knows we’re all in this together and they want to do well for each other."

He added: “You could see that in the way we fought back from 2-0 down to beat Ramsgate last Saturday.”

The Stones know the odds are stacked against them if they are to register a third straight win on Saturday, against runaway Ryman League Premier Division leaders Dover at Crabble.

"The league table doesn’t lie and we know we’ll be up against an exceptional side," said Hume. "But we know the 11 we put out will be good enough to win the game.

"Player for player we are as strong as Dover, I have no fears on that score."

Central defender Ian Cox returns to contention for Maidstone after being unavailable for last week’s match against Ramsgate when James Peacock deputised.