Better for the experience
Get all the latest news at www.kentonline.co.uk/sport
Saunders, who celebrates six years in charge next month, is focused on keeping United in the National League after three promotions in four seasons.
But it’s also the time of year when co-owners Terry Casey and Oliver Ash and chief executive Bill Williams hold new contract talks.
It’s been glory all the way until this season but Saunders believes he’s a better manager for the experience as United fight to stay up .
He said: “It’s something we’ll speak about in the next few weeks. I’ve always had a good relationship with Terry, Oliver and Bill.
“It’s one of those conversations that usually takes two minutes and I shouldn’t think it’ll be much different this year.
“It’s been a tough season but I love it here. I’ve had five or six years of pretty much winning all the time and now it’s the other end of the spectrum.
“You learn more in a situation like this than when you’re winning every week. We’ll see what happens but my main priority is keeping us in this league.
“You say you’re a better manager for times like this and you sound like a wally because you’re losing but you do learn more.
“You find out more about players and yourself. You like to think you’re getting better each year but in terms of where we are this season, I know that sounds silly.”
Maidstone slipped back into the bottom four after Guiseley’s midweek victory over Sutton. that we’ve got to start winning if we want to stay in the league.”
Fellow strugglers Woking and Braintree also won on Tuesday night but Saunders isn’t worried about rival teams.
He said: “There’s no point looking at what others are doing. If we start winning games, the league will take care of itself.
“It’s when you start relying on other results that you’re struggling.
“There are still a lot of teams involved at the bottom. If we stay up, we might have to do it the hard way.”
York match report, page 62.