Sol Wanjau-Smith has spoken of his affection for Maidstone as he closes in on his next move.

Wanjau-Smith - released after two years with the Stones - is on the verge of signing for another National League South side.

It means he’ll be back at the Gallagher Stadium next season.

“My time at Maidstone has been unbelievable,” said the forward.

“I’ll miss the fans and even living in the town because it was such a big part of my life and my development.

“Even with the injuries I had, I still look back on my time at Maidstone fondly.

“I can’t wait to return to the Gallagher.

“Hopefully I’ll get a warm reception, as long as I don’t win too many penalties.

“I’m going to be diving all over the place though!

“I won nine last season in 39 games and two the season before in 15 games, so 11 in 50-odd games isn’t bad.”

Wanjau-Smith joined Maidstone from Hungerford on a two-year deal in the summer of 2022.

Knee problems delayed his debut until Boxing Day in a forgettable campaign as United finished bottom of the National League.

He hit the ground running in National League South, forming a promising partnership with Levi Amantchi.

He also got Maidstone’s FA Cup campaign going with a hat-trick in a second qualifying round win at Steyning.

There was further injury frustration as a broken foot ruled him of the Stones’ fairytale win at Ipswich and last-16 exit at Coventry but he returned as George Elokobi’s side clinched a play-off place.

They fell in the semi-finals, beaten by an 89th-minute goal in a 2-1 defeat at Worthing.

“I’m just gutted we didn’t manage to get promotion or at least get to the play-off final,” he said.

“We should have won that game at Worthing.

“We were so unfortunate but that’s football.

“That was probably the hardest loss of the season.

“Everyone felt like we should win that game.

“It didn’t feel it was the right time for our season to end and for it to happen the way it did was heartbreaking.

“It honestly felt worse than relegation the year before because you can prepare for that.”

There was silence in the dressing room after the game, followed by the realisation that players would be moving on.

Wanjau-Smith was among them, learning his fate in a meeting with Elokobi four days later.

“That’s the thing with football,” he said. “After the game, the reality is you know you’re never going to see some of these people again or at least not talk to them as frequently.

“In my case, I’d spent a lot of time with some of those boys over the last two years, seeing them every day or every other day.

“To know you’re not going to live in Maidstone again - you never know what the future holds but it’s unlikely - was strange.

“We had such a good group, everyone got on so well.

“It wasn’t much of a shock that I got released.

“I was lucky in some aspects in that I was one of the last meetings of the day.

“I’d already found out the boys that were leaving and I had an inkling I’d be getting released too.

“The gaffer properly hugged me afterwards and the same with Craig Fagan (assistant manager).

“He really did help me as a gaffer and was so understanding.

“His hands were tied because I was the only one on a two-year deal so he had no choice other than to have me in the squad.

“But he gave me a fair crack and I felt I contributed a lot but that’s football.

“We had a really good relationship. If you look back at the Kent Senior Cup final, when we’re receiving the trophy, me and the gaffer are taking the mick out of each other.

“That’s how it was between us. I think he enjoyed having me around the dressing room because I’m a big character.

“The way he was in the meeting, I could tell it was a difficult decision for him.

“He obviously had to make a decision for the football club but if was based on personality, he’d have loved to keep me around.”