Maidstone United summer signing John Gilbert discusses his move to the Gallagher Stadium

John Gilbert is convinced Maidstone United will be challenging for promotion again next season.

Attacking midfielder Gilbert became the club’s first summer signing when he joined from Slough last week.

The Stones are working on another rebuild, after losing the likes of Aaron Blair, Temi Eweka, Charlie Seaman and Alexis Andre Jr.

But that’s nothing new to manager George Elokobi and Gilbert believes he has joined a club who will be fighting for honours once more after successive National League South play-off campaigns.

The 25-year-old wants to help them take the final step.

“If you look at other clubs in the league, and football in general, there’s always turnovers, whether it’s two or three players or 10-plus,” said Gilbert.

“You look at Maidstone’s changes from the last couple of seasons, it was the same thing, they had to have a bit of a turnover and look how well they’ve done.

“They’ve not been as successful as they wanted because they’re on that last push and it didn’t quite go for them.

“But I still see it as a very successful club putting themselves in that environment to be amongst the top teams and really battle on those final days of the season.

“I’ve come in for us to put it right and finish the job this time.”

The league is widely tipped to be tougher than ever with a number of ambitious full-time clubs battling for glory.

Gilbert has only spoken to Elokobi on the phone so far but knows the Stones boss is set on building a squad to fight for promotion.

He said: “I haven’t seen the squad yet, I don’t know who George is signing, or the way he plays, but you know from the history of the club, I feel it’s only right to be thinking like that.

“George is bringing players in, like me, for a reason, and the only