Glowing in praise

NEW STONES SIGNING NANA IS TIPPED FOR SUCCESS

One of Maidstone’s latest signings comes highly recommended by ex-Tottenham boss David Pleat.

Winger Nana Kyei, 21, joins from Barnet, where he worked with Stones head of football John Still.

Still liked the look at Kyei when he took charge at the Hive last summer – an opinion shared by Pleat, the former Spurs boss who also had spells at Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday and Luton. “We played a pre-season friendly against Ipswich and David Pleat, a good friend of mine, was at the game,” said Still.

“He’d seen Nana play previously and he said to me, ‘I’ll be honest with you, I really feel this kid’s got a great chance’, and I felt the same.

“I think I’ve got a great knowledge on football but David’s like an encyclopedia. He’s a great judge and a proper football person.

“He liked him and I was impressed with him in the early stages of the season but he got a complicated knock that set him back.

“It took time to get over but, to be honest, I’m surprised Barnet didn’t keep him.

“I know him well and he’s ideal for us.

“He’s a good player, a great lad, a good trainer, he’s got a good attitude – everything we want.” Kyei was one of three signings announced by Maidstone on Monday.

Iffy Allen, another winger, arrives from Braintree and has worked with Stones head coach Hakan Hayrettin.

United have also landed 19-yearold right Danny Divine, who was released by Gillingham.

Still said: “We were looking for a player who could play wide either side or like a No.10 and Iffy fitted that bill.

“We had a couple of options, Iffy and someone else, but I think Hak, having worked with him, pushed that one over the line. “It’s nice to have people you’ve worked with before because you know exactly what you’re going to get. Danny’s one who trained with us for a little while at the end of last season and I loved his attitude.

“When we played Gillingham in the Kent Senior Cup I had a long conversation with Mark Patterson (youth coach) and Alex Lacey, one of my old players, and they both spoke highly of him. “He’s a young man looking to make his way and he impressed us all when he came in and trained.”

Maidstone started pre-season training on Monday.

They visit Herne Bay for their first friendly on Saturday, a fixture arranged on the back of Jake Embery’s move to the Gallagher. That’s followed by a trip to Folkestone on Tuesday night.