McClure could end his spell

Maidstone forward Matt McClure could be leaving the club this month.

McClure’s short-term deal expires on January 16 and he’s attracting interest elsewhere after scoring 10 goals for the Stones, including the first hattrick of his career, against St Albans, in September.

The former Wycombe and Aldershot man, 28, has been offered new terms but may decide to move on.

Stones head of football John Still said: “We don’t know the full outcome of it yet. We’ve made him an offer and we’ll be talking to him as we go along. He’s here till the 16th, so we’ll go from there. If he wants to stay, we’re delighted.

“The club have offered him what they can but if he wants to go for whatever reason, good luck to him because it’s his career and he’s got to look after it.”

Chris Lewington knows he can’t let his standards slip after taking over in goal at Maidstone. Lewington has been brilliant in the four games he’s played since John Still and Hakan Hayrettin decided Jake Cole needed to rest a calf problem. The club’s goalkeeper coach has had fans singing his name after numerous fine saves, the latest an outstanding reaction stop with his foot to deny Havant an injury-time equaliser on Saturday.

It’s Lewington’s shirt at the moment but any slip-ups and Cole is waiting in the wings. “I still keep my eye in,” said Lewington.

“It’s not a case where I sit at home doing nothing for six months and then just turn up and play.

“It’s still early days, I think that’s four games I’ve played now.

“I’m enjoying being part of the team but obviously Coley’s pushing and it’s a bit of a challenge between us but he’s been absolutely brilliant and supportive.

“That’s the funny thing with goalies, there is that goalkeepers’ union.

“We all understand the position, we also understand we’re going to go through good bits and challenging bits, it’s just the nature of it.

“It happened to me at Dover where I didn’t play a game for 18 months, I wasn’t even in the squad sometimes.

“I accept it, other goalies accept it, you don’t want to not play but you’re there to challenge and keep ticking over.

“Coley’s first-class, he’s absolutely brilliant as a person