ANGELS SET FOR TOUGHEST TEST

JAY SAUNDERS has won National League South promotion – and the Tonbridge Angels boss reckons this year’s division is tougher than ever.

- Matt Badcock

Saunders guided hometown Maidstone United into Non-League’s top flight through the play-offs in 2016.

Now at Angels, he arrived last summer as they eventually finished just four points outside the play-offs.

Progression is always the aim and Saunders felt getting some older heads in the building this summer would only help in an intimidating looking Step 2 league.

From when I got promoted out of it with Maidstone it has progressed and progressed,” Saunders told The NLP. “It’s a very, very strong league. You look at teams like Yeovil, Torquay, Maidstone coming back into it – there are big clubs and it’s going to be tougher than ever.

“But it’s good because it helps attract players. Players take this as a serious level. Before it was like if you weren’t in the National League it was a big step down. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a big step but it’s such an attractive league to play in.