Maidstone United manager Craig Fagan on the importance of staying level-headed and putting faith in young players

Craig Fagan is ready to take the rough with the smooth as Maidstone United manager.

Fagan started his reign with a 2-1 home defeat by Farnborough in National League South last weekend.

It was his first competitive game in charge after three years as assistant manager to ex-boss George Elokobi.

The Stones bid to put their first points on the board at Walton & Hersham on Saturday (3pm) before hosting Folkestone at the Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm).

“I wanted this job, I wanted it for a reason,” said Fagan.

“I feel I can help the football club, I feel I can impact results, like George did.

“It didn’t go our way against Farnborough but I’m big enough and bold enough to take the losses like the wins. You’ve got to be level all the way through.

“You can’t get too down on the losses or too excited about the wins. Even if we’d won the first game, I’d have been thinking about getting ready for next week.

“In this league, especially, everybody beats everybody at this stage because no team is settled yet.”

Maidstone named a young bench against Farnborough, including four players from the under-23s - Farron Chime, Timi Olagbemi, Juan Sanchez and Rowan Gravenell - plus teenage goalkeeper Lucas Brookman, who’s just been promoted to the first-team squad.

Nana Boateng and Jayden Davis were the only senior players, although Boateng’s debut as a second-half substitute was cut short by a hamstring injury.

Fagan won’t hesitate to continue naming youngsters on the bench while he works with a small squad.

“We haven’t got a budget to be able to name a bench of all senior players at this present time, so we are where we are,” said Fagan.

“I’m not going to moan about it. I’m happy to get on with it, and I’ve got confidence in the players