Maidstone manager Hakan Hayrettin still feels he was right to stay loyal to last season’s squad.

Hayrettin called for new signings after Monday’s 1-0 home defeat by Dagenham.

It was a result that left them in the National League bottom four on goal difference, having played more games than all their relegation rivals.

But he’s not convinced wholesale changes over the summer - a route fellow promoted club York went down under ex-boss John Askey - would have been right.

He felt his National South title winners deserved a chance to play at the next level, plus it would have cost significant money to start from scratch.

York are eight points better off than the Stones but are by no means free of relegation worries under new boss David Webb.

The teams meet at the Minstermen’s new LNER Stadium this Saturday (3pm).

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

“I could have done what the York fella 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 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.”

Hayrettin was quick to point to injuries after Maidstone started 2023 with a fifth successive defeat.

He was particularly frustrated to see Sol Wanjau-Smith back on the sidelines a week after making his debut, although he could be on the bench at York.

And he couldn’t help but reflect on the absence of last season’s National South player-of-the-year Joan Luque.

The Spaniard has been out all season after knee and hernia operations but is on course to return in March.

“Luque was brilliant for me last season,” said 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.

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“What do I do? I have a philosophy in the way I play and when your players are injured, it’s hard.

“Can you imagine having Luque and Wanjau-Smith not at your disposal? And Reiss Greenidge, Raphe Brown and Gavin Hoyte? That’s five big players for this club.

“Let’s be honest, we’ve got one of the lowest budgets in the league.

“We can’t compete with Dagenham, financially. Their budget is double ours. Most are. You need your players fit.”