First-team coach Ryan Gordon adds another dimension to Maidstone's management team.

Gordon, who's also head of football at the University of East London, boasts a masters degree in positive psychology and coaching psychology.

He's been nicknamed 'The Glue' by Maidstone captain George Elokobi, as the man who holds everything together.

"Effectively, what I do is look at wellbeing and performance themes, such as emotional intelligence and team cohesion," said Gordon. "I look at strengths, focus coaching and use that working with the players.

"At times it's showing itself well on the pitch.

"Football's changed, the players have changed.

"They want to know more about how they can have an impact intrinsically with their own motivation and how that works its way into the team.

"A lot of the stuff I do is on their perspective of the game, how to cope under pressure, because success demands pressure, and it's given them an understanding.

"I apply the softer skills maybe to have have little conversations they may need or feel they need.

"At the same time we've still got to achieve high levels of performance.

"A lot of things combine - their wellbeing, how they feel, how does that work in performance and then how does that work when you've got club goals and team goals.

"It's funny because it's that bridge between players and management and staff.

"Sometimes when we drive and find things a bit tough, it's 'come on guys, keep going, keep pushing' and it just gives them another voice."

Gordon, a Uefa-qualified coach, knows there's a balance to strike between tactics and the mental side of the game.

He added: "I always believe that players have to be technically aware and tactically astute.

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"There's two sides to the game - in possession and out of possession.

"What's our attitude, in and out of possession? What's our resilience like? How do we cope under pressure when the opposition have got their tails up?

"Sometimes we've lost games and we haven't played our best but we've sat down and spoken about it with the staff and we stick to the goals, we stick to the plan, we've just got to put more efforts in, more work.

"We started slowly but we're gaining momentum.

"We know we have the talent, we know we have the personnel but it's just getting that message across to the players sometimes and saying, 'look, keep believing in yourselves and keep working hard'."

Gordon has 25 years' coaching experience in grassroots, semi-pro and professional football, and has a degree in sport and exercise science to go with his psychology masters.

He played under Stones head of football John Still at Dagenham and has known head coach Hakan Hayrettin for years.

The three of them make quite a team.

Gordon said: "John's a legendary manager.

"He's been doing it 40 years and to work for a manager who's won so many titles is incredible.

"I've got to know Hak on the coaching circuit and he invited me in. We all push each other.

"I've got huge ambitions and I feel I can fulfil them at Maidstone.

"It's a great place for me to continue my career.

"I'd love to see this club playing in the Football League and I will give all my time and experience to try and make that happen."

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