Maidstone United manager Craig Fagan impressed by new signing Ken Charles’ desire to take the No.9 shirt

New Maidstone United striker Ken Charles showed his intent during transfer talks by asking for the No.9 shirt.

Charles joined the Stones last week from Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints.

He carried the confidence of a man with a title medal following a year in Wales which also saw him play in the Conference League qualifying rounds.

Charles, whose arrival was followed by the signing of midfielder Ryan Hanson on Wednesday, played for Maidstone under-18s before turning pro at Colchester.

Now 25, he’s back at the Gallagher Stadium and ready to deliver the goods.

“He wanted the No.9 shirt,” said Maidstone manager Craig Fagan.

“I’ve got no problem with that because I believe the way I want to play, he’ll score goals for us, so that’s another positive.

“As I said to him, the No.9 shirt brings a lot more scrutiny, people asking the questions, you’re a No.9, you should be scoring goals and he said, ‘no, I want that’, so that’s perfect for me. I’m happy with that.

“We want players that want to show what they’re about and hopefully he’ll score a lot of goals for us.

“He’s someone we know, someone I know, and we tried to get him in the building previously.

“He has loads of ability, he can run in behind but technically he’s very good with the ball as well. With him and Tom Leahy, it gives us a different attacking threat to what we had last season.”

Fagan, meanwhile, is making progress in his search for an assistant manager.

It’s an important position and one the new Stones boss is determined to get right.

He said: “I’ve had a couple of good conversations last week and I’ve had one or two that have just come out the blue that have contacted me.

“There’s interest there. The football club, the way we try and do things, it’s