MILLS IN NO RUSH TO MOVE
Tom Mills has no interest in leaving Maidstone United for a Football League club.
The defender has signed a new two-anda-half-year deal at the Gallagher, taking him through to the end of the 2017-18 season.
He has made 275 appearances and is still only 24. Stones boss Jay Saunders is surprised by the lack of league interest but it doesn’t worry Mills.
He said: “People who know me know I’m not all about needing to get to a league club as quick as I can.
“That’s more for younger lads coming through with a lot of ability. Maidstone is a big club. You could go to League 2 – but for what?
“It’s not a massive jump from National South. The main thing for me is, where I’ve been here since I was 18, I’ve seen the club progress.
“At first we had nothing, no ground, no academy and we were training on other people’s pitches.
“Over the years it’s got bigger and bigger and now everyone’s talking about Maidstone. People don’t go and see their Premier League teams these days – they come to Maidstone. It’s massive and I love being a part of it.”
Mills joined Maidstone after the old Sheppey United folded.
He’s barely missed a game since Jay Saunders took charge almost five years ago and didn’t hesitate when offered a new deal. He said: “Jay spoke to me two or three months ago about doing something but I wasn’t expecting two-and-a-half years.
“It’s always nice to hear you’re wanted, especially when you only have six months left on your contract. I’ve not wanted to go to any other club.”
Mills is part of the meanest defence in National South, with only 16 goals conceded in 25 games but it took him time to adjust after promotion from the Ryman League Premier Division.
He said: “Jay said to me three or four games in I wasn’t on it and I couldn’t disagree with him.
“You have to adapt but you can’t afford to go 10 or 15 games without performing, otherwise someone else will come in and take your place.
“Jay put his trust in me, we ’ v e done well as a team and now we’re second in the league.
“If you’d asked anyone at the beginning of the season they might have said we’d end up 12th or 13th but we’ve proved we’re not a small club just looking to stay up.
“We’re only six points behind Ebbsfleet, who are a great team. We’ve shown everyone we can compete.”
‘Over the years it’s got bigger and bigger and now everyone’s talking about Maidstone’