Maidstone United boss George Elokobi on his route into management and creating a legacy at the Gallagher Stadium

He has a Premier League background as a player but George Elokobi had no intention of jumping the queue in his coaching career.

Elokobi, named Maidstone boss last Friday, has been quietly working away behind the scenes to prepare for his opportunity.

The former Wolves defender has been taking his coaching badges and working with United’s academy to put himself in a position to get into management.

It’s often a criticism aimed at ex-pros who jump straight into Football League jobs without learning their trade further down the pyramid.

Elokobi had no intention of going down that route when he set out on the road to coaching.

“We all start from somewhere,” he said.

“I always said I wanted to start my career organically and go about it right.

“I didn’t want to cut any corners. I wanted to make sure I’m learning and developing myself as a coach, as a manager, which I’ve done since I joined this football club.

“I’ve been coaching, spending countless hours outdoors making sure I’m learning, but I’ve also engaged myself in coaching courses to better myself.

“As a manager it’s all about being successful but going about it the right way and making sure I work as hard as I can every single day to be the best version of myself.

“I want to give myself a chance to be able to develop but also make sure I deliver for our football club.

“That means putting a structure and a culture in place that if I were to leave here tomorrow I can look back and go, ‘Yes, there is a legacy left behind’, just as there was when I played for this football club as captain.”

Elokobi played under some big-name managers in his career, a list topped by Mick McCarthy and Kenny Jackett at Wolves.

Add in the likes of Gary Waddock, Phil Parkinson and Lee Johnson