Deals close for play-off heroes
Maidstone are closing in on new deals for play-off stars Bobby-Joe Taylor and Dumebi Dumaka, writes Craig Tucker. Manager Jay Saunders has spoken to the players’ agents and is hopeful they will sign on their return from holiday. Saunders said: “I don’t want to say too much until they’ve put pen to paper but we’re pretty much there. “I’ve spoken to the agents, it’s just a case of Bob and DD signing when they’re back. Hopefully, they will be done soon.” Winger Taylor rejected a new deal at League 2 Cambridge to join Maidstone last summer. He saved his best form for the end of the season, capped by a wonder goal as Stones upset Ebbsfleet in the National South play-off final. Saunders said: “Bob’s someone that’s always had ability. “He came down from fulltime football and struggled to get his head round it at first. “He thought he’d turn up and be the best player but it doesn’t work like that. There’s more to come from him. “It’s a mental thing with Bob sometimes. He’s a confidence player. When things are going well, he’s a bubblier person.” Striker Dumaka scored six goals for Stones after signing from Grays in February, including the last-gasp equaliser that took the play-off final to penalties. Consistency is the challenge if, as expected, he stays at the Gallagher for Stones’ first season in the National League. Saunders said: “DD’s untried at this level but, in all fairness, he scored six in 12 for us last season. “A lot of it is mental with DD. When he’s on it, like when he came on in the play-off final, he’s a real handful and a quality player but he needs to do that week in, week out. “The second leg of the playoff against Truro cost him his place in the final – he just strolled around.” A centre-half is among Saunders’ targets after releasing Manny Parry. Saunders said: “It was a tough decision to let Manny go. I spoke to him when the season finished about a new deal. “I was kind of going down the route of keeping him but I felt we needed a little bit more experience at the back for the National League. “It might be one that comes back to bite me but you have to make decisions.”