Maidstone United assistant manager Craig Fagan knows what it takes in the play-offs after Wembley wins with Derby County and Hull City

Assistant manager Craig Fagan could be Maidstone’s lucky charm in the National League South play-offs.

Fagan has a 100% success rate in the play-offs, twice winning promotion to the Premier League.

He first achieved the feat with Derby in 2007, with the Rams beating West Brom 1-0 in the final at Wembley.

A year later he did it again as part of the Hull side who edged Bristol City by the only goal of the game.

Fagan knows what it takes to deliver in the play-offs and his experience could be vital as Maidstone host Aveley in Wednesday night’s eliminator at the Gallagher.

“Luckily, I’ve been there twice and managed to win,” said Fagan. “I’m hoping that brings us a bit of luck but it’s never as easy as that in the play-offs. It’s about who turns up on the day.

“It’s a chance to get promoted and the boys have got to go out there with confidence and not get overawed by the occasion.

“For me, I wanted to show people that leaving Birmingham as a kid was the right decision, that I could come back up through the levels and get back to the Premier League.

“It’s the same for some of these boys who’ve had a taste of the Conference before. Hopefully we can get back there.

“You’ve got to go out there and win the game.

“That means not giving away any silly goals early on and staying competitive.

“You’ve not come all this way not to give your all so the advice when I played was to enjoy it and do your family proud, which is something I spoke about before we played Ipswich in the FA Cup.

“It helped me have that extra step to push myself.”

Fagan has sought advice from old managers, including Phil Brown, his Wembley-winning boss at Hull.

The consensus is that Maidstone’s FA Cup experience this season will serve them well in the play-offs.

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