Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin draws on experiences under Martin O'Neill and John Still in National League South title race

Hakan Hayrettin is drawing on all his title-winning experience to fuel Maidstone’s promotion bid.

The Stones moved top of National League South with eight games to play after winning 2-1 at Braintree last weekend.

They’re two points clear of long-time leaders Dorking going into Saturday’s home game against St Albans.

Nothing changes for Stones boss Hayrettin who learned from two of the best when it comes to getting over the line in championship battles.

He was part of Martin O’Neill’s Wycombe team who won the Conference in 1993 and, more than two decades later, he teamed up in the dugout with John Still to get Luton back in the Football League.

“Eight cup finals, that’s all we’ve got,” said Hayrettin. “I’m feeling all right.

“I’ve been here as a player and a manager, haven’t I? I know the drill, I know what’s needed.

“I think when you’ve experienced it previously you’re going to know the pitfalls and the pluses, aren’t you? You know the positives and negatives.

“The positives are we’ve got the momentum and the negatives are if we get carried away and think we don’t have to turn up, we could be in trouble.

“That’s exactly what happened at Slough a fortnight ago (2-1 defeat) and it mustn’t happen again.

“I think playing for Martin O’Neill was an experience in itself. He made sure we were strong and resilient and didn’t get carried away.

“That’s the approach I’m trying to take, where you are what you are.

“I’ve worked with John Still for many years and won the Conference with John and he was very similar to Martin.

“It was never too high, never too low, all you’ve got to do is your job. Do your job and know your job.

“You get the occasional blip, like we did at Slough, and I wasn’t happy with that because it wasn’t our