Maidstone manager Jay Saunders says the days of hammering players are gone.

Chief executive Bill Williams hailed Saunders’ temperament after announcing his new contract last week.

Saunders may give Sven Goran Eriksson a run for his money when it comes to staying cool on the touchline.

It hasn’t always been that way in the dressing room but Saunders knows times have changed.

He said: “I used to lose my head a lot more than I do now.

“Looking back when I was a player to some of the things that happened in changing rooms and things managers said, you just can’t be like that with young lads now.

“They all come from academies and it’s not the way things are done.

“You have to know the ones you can have a go at but I’d like to think they all know when I’m not happy without me having to lose it.

“It is hard sometimes but the game has changed a lot. It’s a different era now.”