Jamar Loza is staying at Maidstone United.

The 23-year-old striker was in demand following a strong finish to his first season with the club, scoring 10 goals to help keep Stones in the National League.

Loza, a Jamaica international, was close to committing at the Gallagher earlier this month before other clubs came calling. But on Wednesday he signed a new one-year deal with United.

Stones boss Jay Saunders said: "It’s been dragged out but I'm delighted. We thought it was all done and dusted a week or so ago and then a League 1 club came in and wanted to speak to him. Every time we thought we had it done, another club showed a bit of interest.

"There’s no denying he wants to get back in and be a pro footballer but he also wanted to stay here so unless it was the right move, he was always going to sign here.

"At the end of the season, when we went on that run, two defeats in 15, he was a massive part in us staying up - his goals and his assists.

"He didn’t have a pre-season anywhere last year because he kept getting let down on deals. He came to us not fit, eventually got there and you could see, towards the end of the season, people just couldn’t deal with him.

"What pleased me is he didn’t want to go back into League football and be sat in someone’s under-23s. He wants to play first-team football.

"I think he realised we’ve given him an opportunity here and he very much enjoyed it. He’s been quite honest, he has said ‘If I don’t go back into the League, this is the place I want to be’ so I’m delighted to get it done.

"I bump into a few supporters around town and they all ask about Jamar because they feel he’s got that X Factor, that little something different, that little bit of class and quality.

"I think people are probably thinking we haven’t brought anyone in yet but they’ve got to remember the likes of Stuart Lewis, Reece Prestedge and Delano Sam-Yorke were all here on short-term things so to get them tied up is a big one."