King was never happy at Stones
FORWARD REVEALS HIS DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER TRANSFER FAILS TO WORK OUT
STRIKER Stuart King has admitted he was never happy at Maidstone.
King returned to Folkestone for an undisclosed fee on Tuesday, just six months after joining United for £ 6,000.
He scored 11 goals in 19 starts as Stones won promotion via the Ryman League, Division 1 South play-offs.
But he couldn’t accept the squad rotation policy and felt the team didn’t play to his strengths.
King said: “I asked to leave in the end and they were happy to let it go through as well.
“It’s a strange one because I put 11 goals away for them but I don’t think I strung more than three games together.
“I was never happy. I played various positions and the fans never saw the best of me because I don’t think they wanted to change their game to suit me.
“It’s a bit like Fernando Torres at Chelsea. He was banging in 30 goals a season at Liverpool but now everyone thinks he’s rubbish.
“But if a team don’t play to your strengths you’re not going to see how good someone is. I didn’t want to leave Folkestone in the first place.”
King was the main man at Invicta but was one of five strikers at the Gallagher.
He couldn’t hide his disappointment after being left on the bench for Stones’ play-off final win against Faversham.
He gave away his medal but revealed that was a gesture to please a young fan.
King said: “It was really hard being one of five. If things weren’t going your way after 60 or 70 minutes, you’d be thinking you could be coming off.
“Strikers will tell you they get goals late on when centre-halves are fatigued.
“Jay (Saunders, manager) said I shouldn’t think like that but you can’t help it. I didn’t make any demands when I joined. Maidstone was the right move because it was a club going places.
“I told Jay I’m an awkward player to play. I’m not the sort you can hoof the ball up to and I’ll win the header.
“There was a lot of long ball. I can hold the ball up but I’ve always played on the deck. A lot of people slated me for looking disinterested but that’s because I’m not happy sitting on the bench.
“Take the play-off final. I was happy we won but it was hard to feel part of it because I didn’t get on.
“It felt like a kick in the teeth. It was the same at Dulwich. It hurt being on the bench. I can’t think of anything worse. Money doesn’t matter to me. I just want to play.”
King is confident he would have scored goals in the Ryman League Premier Division but jumped at the chance to rejoin Folkestone.
He said: “I’m not being big-headed but people always said I should be a Football League player. My attitude when I was younger wasn’t the greatest but it’s been fine for the last few years.
“I’d excel in the Ryman Premier but sometimes a club isn’t right. I wish Maidstone all the success and hope they get to where they want to be.
“It’s a great club with great fans and a great boss.”