Striker Gary Lockyer has set the record straight on his decision to leave Ashford United.

Lockyer, who cleaned up at the Nuts & Bolts’ end-of-season awards, has left his hometown club for a new challenge at relegated Faversham.

The Lilywhites were said to be spending heavily in their doomed battle to retain Isthmian South East status and will be big favourites to win Southern Counties East.

But 21-goal top scorer Lockyer has rejected suggestions his move away from Homelands was motivated by money, instead citing family reasons for wanting to play in a more local league.

New boss Kevin Watson wanted him to stay at Ashford, holding talks with the striker after succeeding Tommy Warrilow.

“I had a really good time at Ashford, I just felt it was the right time to move on,” said Lockyer, 30.

“I know a lot of people say I’ve moved for the money but my career has never been about money in the last 14 years and it isn’t the case now.

“I’ve had numerous chances to leave clubs for more money. It’s never been about money.

“Faversham are on their own journey and with Tommy leaving Ashford, he was someone I’d built up a good relationship with.

“I met Kev - he wanted to keep me and said I was the first person he’d spoken to - and I’m sure he’ll have the club up there challenging but I need to think of my family.

“I’ve just had my fourth child and I wasn’t sure I wanted the commitment of travelling to places like Chichester away.

“My daughter plays up at Charlton on a Tuesday, and I work nights as well, so I was taking her to Sparrows Lane, coming back for training and then going back to London for work, where I earn most of my money.

“Towards the end of the season it became tough.

“Playing in the league below, there’s less travelling and I can be around my family more, which is important.”

Lockyer left Ashford for Isthmian Premier football at Cray Wanderers last summer.

With his game time limited, he returned to Homelands and gave everything to try and get his local club into the play-offs.

They ultimately fell short, finishing ninth, but Lockyer moves on to Faversham with his head held high.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to leave because I’m the second all-time top scorer (since Ashford reformed) and I’d have loved to have broken the record,” he said.

“I’ve got 47 in 86 or 87 games and Shaun Welford has 87, so a couple of years and I could have got that.

“I always gave my all for Ashford and I hope the fans felt that.

“I did get a bit of stick at Christmas, which I felt was unjust, but you’re never going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

“That’s part of football but I always felt 90% of the fans took to me, being a local lad as well.

“I wish the club well and I hope they get the promotion they want.

“It’s been a good couple of years even though we missed out on promotion.

“We lost the play-off final last year and didn’t make the play-offs this year. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be. We weren’t quite good enough.

“Faversham want to get back up and I’ve never won a league before.

“That’s something I want to do and I felt the potential was there.

“I scored 20 in 20 when I last played in the SCEFL with Kennington and hopefully I can score plenty of goals again.

“It’s always going to be quite tough but it’s a fresh start and I’m looking forward to it.

“They’ve got the 3G pitch going down as well, which was a massive factor, because I don’t think I could have played on their old pitch.”