Maidstone United manager George Elokobi speaks about relegation from the National League after 4-0 defeat by Boreham Wood

George Elokobi says it's time for reflection after Maidstone's relegation from the National League was confirmed.

The Stones are down with five games to play following a 4-0 home defeat by Boreham Wood yesterday.

Elokobi succeeded Hakan Hayrettin in January, initially as caretaker boss, with the Stones on a run of six defeats and only two wins in 22 matches.

He felt he could keep them up but has been unable to halt the slump, picking up just three points from 14 games and failing to register a league win.

They’re the first team in the top five divisions of English football to be relegated this season, a year on from celebrating promotion as National South champions.

Elokobi said: “We have to look at every element of when we came into this league, from the moment we got promoted up to this very moment when we’ve been relegated.

“We all need to reflect and as the manager of this football club I know exactly those factors that caused us to be relegated.

“If we don’t win football matches you can’t stay in this league and that’s as simple as it goes.

“We haven’t been good enough this season and we have to make sure in the next five games we try and give a good account of ourselves.

“From my experience as a player, yes, I’ve been in that relegation battle.

“Yes, I’ve been relegated with about five games left and this is not a surprise.

“It’s all about winning games. It doesn’t matter if you play good or you play ugly, it’s about trying to win games and we haven’t done that as a group.

“As a manager that’s my job and the job of the management team and the board, that’s been ever so supportive behind the scenes, to try and put it right in the summer.”

Elokobi’s positivity seemed to be paying off as performances improved after