Maidstone United have signed defender Jack Cawley from National League rivals Bromley.

Manager Hakan Hayrettin had been looking for a centre-half following Elokobi’s retirement and Cawley fits the bill.

The 29-year-old started his career at Heybridge and also played for Maldon & Tiptree before a move to Concord led to an appearance in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.

He went on to join Wealdstone in the National League before sealing a move to Bromley last summer, making 22 appearances for the Lilywhites in the 2021/22 season.

Hayrettin, who played with Cawley’s dad, Peter, at Barnet, said: “Jack’s someone I’ve been after for a little while.

“When I first came to the club, I tried to sign him.

“I played with his dad, who was a wholehearted centre-back, and Jack’s the same.

“He’ll give us something extra, because he’s a leftie as well, but also his background is important to me because he’s come from the lower reaches of non-league and worked his way up and he’s got that hunger to do well.”

Cawley knows all about the National League from his spells with Wealdstone and Bromley and can’t wait to get started at Maidstone, where he will compete with George Fowler and Joe Ellul for a starting spot.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Cawley told Stones TV.

“It’s a club I’ve played against a few times so I’ve seen what the fans are like.

“I feel like I’m an old-school defender. Defending always come first for me. I love winning my headers and my tackles.

“It’s definitely a league I know well. I know what it entails, it’s quite a physical league, which I enjoy, I enjoy a battle.”