Bowden-Brown has been at the Maidstone helm for more than 15 years

Maidstone United chairman Paul Bowden-Brown has agreed to sell the Ryman League club to shareholder Oliver Ash.

After months of negotiations Bowden-Brown said: "It has taken hours to get to this point, but Oliver and I are now very close to a conclusion.

"We will inform everyone once we have finalised everything and agreed a takeover date."

Bowden-Brown took over after the demise of the original club and has been in charge for the last 19 years.

This latest development spells the end of a possible takeover bid by Lashings Cricket Club.

Lashings, who are associated with a restaurant in the town, believed they could also bring success to the club.

But former Maidstone player Glenn Aitken, who was working with Lashings on their bid, said he wanted what was best for the club.

"On one level I just wish the club all the best. If the current shareholders and management can get a plan together that's workable, then I will be happy," he said.

"Wearing my hat as an ex-player and a Maidstone boy now I just want to see the team back in Maidstone.

"Oliver has already invested a large amount of money in the club, his expertise is around the area of developing stadiums and therefore he maybe ideally placed to bring more money to the table."

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