STEVE JONES, leading scorer in the Kent League this season, has confirmed that he is leaving Deal Town.

Jones, who joined Deal from Maidstone last summer, has won the Kent League Golden Boot award after scoring 28 goals in the league and his total for the season in all competitions was 36.

But the Folkestone-based striker looks set to follow former Deal manager Simon Bryant to Herne Bay. He said: “I definitely won’t be playing for Deal next season, and it looks pretty likely that I will be at Herne Bay, although I haven’t signed anything yet.

“I like playing for Simon Bryant. He is a manager who you can trust.”

But Jones also revealed: “There’s a chance that I might not be able to play much next season because of work commitments.”

Jones’ goalscoring record speaks for itself but his individualistic approach did not endear him to everyone at the Charles Ground.

He is likely to be one of several Deal players who will be at Herne Bay next season, with Bryant revealing this week that Jones’ strike partner Mark Pollard, midfielders Ian Hayes and Ben Laslett, defenders Mike Heather and Luke Farmer, and goalkeeper Jason Hughes had all agreed to move to Winch’s Field.

New Deal manager Derek Hares had been expecting a “mini exodus” to Herne Bay, although he is still hoping to persuade a couple of Bryant’s targets to change their minds.