Returning Stuart King never wanted to leave Folkestone in the first place.

The striker is back at Cheriton Road after an unhappy six-month spell at Kent rivals Maidstone United.

He scored 11 goals in 19 starts as the Stones clinched promotion via the Ryman League, Division 1 South play-offs. But he couldn’t accept their squad rotation policy and felt the team didn’t play to his strengths.

The 25-year-old jumped at the chance to rejoin Folkestone who were forced to sell him in November to help ease the club’s finances.

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 played in 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.

“Sometimes you go to a club and you just don’t fit. It’s a bit like Torres at Chelsea. He was banging in 30 goals a season at Liverpool but now everyone thinks he’s rubbish.

“If a team doesn’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.

“But when I went to Maidstone, I never thought I’d be going back six months later.”

King is delighted to be reunited with Invicta boss Cugley.

He added: “Cugs is a friend, as well as a manager and he understands me. He’s the best manager in non-league football as far as I’m concerned.

“He just knows the game so well and understands players.”

King’s first spell as an Invicta player brought 44 goals from 47 appearances and Cugley was thrilled to welcome back his striker.

He said: “Stuart likes it at Folkestone and I’m delighted to have him back. Other clubs were interested but he was never going to go anywhere else.

“People forget he’s only 25 and he’s still learning the game. It’s a really big boost for us."