Maidstone United midfielder Alex Brown has turned his loan at Leatherhead into a permanent deal.

Stones had been in talks to extend Brown's loan into a second month but he will now be staying with the Ryman League Premier Division side.

Boss Jay Saunders said: "Browny has been absolutely brilliant during his time here. He wants the opportunity to be playing week in, week out and that’s not something I can guarantee at this moment. For me that shows the strength of the current squad we’ve got here.

"If I had to pick a highlight of his time here, I’d say it was his goal in the home game against Margate last season. It was one of the turning points of that promotion-winning campaign.

"It’s never easy losing a player like Browny but I respect his decision. He goes with our very best wishes and thanks for all he contributed in the past three years."

Brown joined his hometown club from Gillingham in December 2012. He made 139 appearances, helping Stones to two promotions in three seasons, League Cup glory and an FA Cup first-round win over Stevenage.

He was the first player to sign a contract after Stones reached National League South and was a regular in the side before suffering a knee injury in September.

A crowd favourite, he made his comeback as a makeshift right-back in the victory over Truro at the start of December and played in the FA Trophy defeat against Bognor Regis the following weekend before joining Leatherhead on loan.