Maidstone United manager laments York City's summer transfer business

Hayrettin criticised the squad reshuffle by former York manager John Askey in the summer, as 18 new signings were confirmed by the ex-City boss. 

The Squatters has shown loyalty to his players, with just five new starters in the Stones’ team that were defeated 1-0 by Dagenham & Redbridge on New Year’s Day. 

Maidstone currently sit third-from-bottom in the Vanarama National League relegation zone this season and have won just two of their last 21 league games. 

Hayrettin remains upbeat however, and claims he will stick by his squad. 

“Looking back at it, maybe I could have done things differently, but I’m not sure it was the way to go,” Hayrettin admitted to Kent Online.

“I could have done what the York fella (Askey) did. He changed nearly everybody but that hasn’t really got them in a better situation and it’s probably cost them more money.

“If I’d have done that, I think it would have cost the club a hell of a lot more money. That’s what I think, from my knowledge and my experience.

“Maybe my loyalty to certain people was fundamentally the most important thing in the decisions I made but I know these boys are good enough.

“But you can’t keep fighting when you’ve got five, six, seven players out injured every week.”

Maidstone will be without a key figure from last season, as winger Joan Luque was ruled out for the season after undergoing a knee and a hernia operation earlier last year.

Luque, who was awarded the Vanarama National League South player-of-the-season award, was the Squatters top goalscorer in the division with 20 goals. 

“Luque was brilliant for me last season,” enthused Hayrettin. 

“When your peers give you an award, you know they respect you. 

“We’ve missed him all season, and Solomon Wanjau-Smith hasn’t kicked a ball until last week.

“I’ve got the player who won the player-of-the-season in National South last year and another one who I know is going to frighten people, who is out again.”