Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin using tough love to get the most out of his players

Hakan Hayrettin is willing to ruffle a few feathers to get every last drop out of his Maidstone players.

Stones boss Hayrettin has no problem with a bit of tough love and says the squad know it’s nothing personal.

They moved level on points with National South leaders Dorking courtesy of Joan Luque’s late goal in a 1-0 midweek victory over Braintree.

And they’re out to maintain the pressure at Slough on Saturday, followed by a home game against Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night.

“Sometimes I say things to get the best out of the players and they might not like me for a week,” said Hayrettin, whose side came from 2-0 down to beat Hungerford 3-2 last Saturday.

“But there’s a unity in the squad where they understand it’s not personal, it’s business.

“I ruffled a few feathers on Tuesday night and on Saturday.

“It goes one of two ways but what you want is a squad that’s strong enough to accept it and learn from it.

“The boys are giving me everything they’ve got and I’m pushing them to the max to give me even more.

“From mine and Terry’s (assistant manager Terry Harris) experience, before you know it, the season’s gone and it’s who keeps their nerve.”

The Braintree game was tight, with the visitors setting their stall out to be difficult to beat.

That will be a common theme during the run-in and Maidstone will be ready.

“What I know is every game we win, it’s like a stab in the heart to the other teams around us,” said Hayrettin.

“We’ve just got to make sure we keep grinding these results out, whether it’s 1-0 or 2-1.

“Slough won’t be easy, Dulwich won’t be easy, we have to keep working hard and that’s what we’ll do.

“We’re never going to play expansive, exciting football every week and when we do, teams are going to drop off