User:Sambunn/History of Maidstone United F.C. (2006-present)

The History of Maidstone United F.C. (2006–present) covers the period following the clubs promotion to the Isthmian League in April 2006, to the present day.

After winning the Kent League Premier Division title in 2006, Maidstone were promoted to the Isthmian League Division One South for the 2006-07 season. Maidstone won the league at the first time of asking, snatching the title thanks to a final day win against Walton Casuals and were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division. After spending the 2007-08 season in and around the relegation places, Maidstone managed to avoid relegation thanks to a 1-0 victory at Folkestone Invicta, and in the process relegated the seaside club in a winner takes all match. The next year the team fared somewhat better on the pitch, flirting with the play off places before eventually finishing 15th. However off the pitch things took a turn for the worse, a bid for the Football Foundation to fund the building of the clubs proposed new ground at James Whatman Way was turned down and continuing financial problems saw the playing budget halved. The 2009-10 season saw the club move from Sittingbourne's Bourne Park home to groundshare with Ashford Town at The Homelands stadium. Maidstone struggled at their new home, deepening money problems saw some player wages deferred until the end of the season and in February 2010 Lloyd Hume and Alan Walker resigned as managers of the club. They were replaced by reserve team manager Peter Nott who oversaw the club to safety from relegation. In November 2010 Nott was sacked as manager with his side rooted bottom of the Isthmian League Premier Division table. Andy Ford was appointed a day later with Steve Butler coming in as his assistant.