Maidstone United manager George Elokobi says the club are speaking to Crawley Town as winger Antony Papadopoulos’ loan nears conclusion

Maidstone are in talks with Crawley over the future of loanee Antony Papadopoulos.

The winger’s second loan spell at the Gallagher is due to end early next month.

No decision has been made on what happens next.

“With Paps, he’s contracted to Crawley,” said Maidstone manager George Elokobi.

“There’s been communication, we have to see what Crawley want to do, and also what Paps wants to do.

“Players have to make the decisions they need to make but I think he’s enjoyed his time here. We have to wait and see.

“There’s communication going on.

“When you have loan players it’s never in your hands until the parent club decide what they want to do.

“Once they decide then we’ll go from there as a football club but as long as he’s here he keeps giving his all for us.”

Elokobi praised fellow winger Jephte Tanga after his starring role against Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night.

Tanga returned to the Gallagher last summer after a disappointing campaign at Stonebridge Road.

He opened the scoring against his old club and it was his cross that led to a Josh Passley own goal as Maidstone completed a 3-0 victory.

“We know what Jephte brings to the environment,” said Elokobi, whose side are in derby action at Tonbridge on Saturday (3pm).

“He’s very honest, very professional in how he works and, let’s not forget, Jephte is a young man.

“He’s a young footballer that is learning his trade.

“Yes, he was at Ebbsfleet last season and for one reason or another he didn’t have a consistent season.

“When we spoke in the summer, when he was on a free, I told him to come back to Maidstone so we can carry on developing him.

“Technically he’s very good but what you also get is the tenacity for the size of the player and he’s got a big heart.

“He just wants to