Goalkeeper Harley Earle says it’s time to find out how good he is after being released by hometown club Maidstone.

Earle was among 10 players let go by manager George Elokobi after the Stones’ National League South play-off exit.

He’s now signed for Isthmian South East Sittingbourne, the club where he enjoyed an outstanding loan spell in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

Serving as understudy to players’ player-of-the-year Lucas Covolan, the 20-year-old didn’t make a league appearance for Maidstone this season.

But he was faultless as United lifted the Kent Senior Cup for a record 19th time, keeping three clean sheets out of three.

He kept Gillingham at bay in a 2-0 win in round two, made the decisive penalty save following a goalless draw with Punjab in the quarter-finals, and got the nod as United beat Ebbsfleet 4-0 in the final.

Earle was disappointed to be released by a club he first joined as a nine-year-old and returned to as an academy player following spells at Norwich and Fulham.

But he’s looking at the bigger picture and the chance to become a first-choice keeper.

“It was very emotional to be leaving my hometown club,” said Earle, speaking before his Sittingbourne move was announced.

“I’ve probably not taken it the best - I didn’t really want to leave - but it’s time to go out and play instead of being in somebody’s shadow.

“I just want to go somewhere and be given more chance to play.

“I want to find out how good I actually am.

“That’s the main thing and if I get a full season under my belt, getting more game time than I’ve ever had, I’ll find out.

“It’s been a funny season for me because I haven’t conceded a goal all year, which isn’t a bad stat, but I don’t feel like I’ve been challenged.

“I’ve played three games and kept three clean sheets and that’s it.

“I haven’t really done anything.

“When Maidstone released me, I asked the gaffer if I’d done anything wrong and he said no, you were perfect, a great servant to the club, we’re just going in a different direction.

“I asked if there was anything I could have done better and he said no.

“It’s annoying in a way - it would be easier if he turned round and said you’re no good.

“But he said we feel like we’d be wasting your career if we kept you another year, just because you need to go out get some game time to prove yourself.

“That’s a fair comment because I do need to go and play just to see what level I can play at.

“If I have a good year then I’m going to be a somebody rather than being in somebody’s shadow.

“I just want to go out and try and make a name for myself and find out if I can be the No.1 at some other club.

“I can’t do any more than I’ve done at Maidstone but at the same time I haven’t been given that opportunity to see if I could be a No.1, which is frustrating, as much as I’ve enjoyed my time there.”

Earle was on standby to start the National League South season as Maidstone struggled to find a new first-choice goalkeeper.

Trialists came and went before Covolan, a free agent after leaving Port Vale, arrived with days to spare.

Earle had a great relationship with the big Brazilian.

“Lucas was a joy to work with,” he said.

“I looked up to him as a goalkeeping father.

“He actually cooked me a three-course dinner a couple of weeks ago, after I picked him up while his car was in the garage.

“He’s a nice guy to be around and we worked well as No.1 and No.2 because we knew each other’s place.

“We never had that confrontation or bitterness which you sometimes see when the No.1 and No.2 are fighting it out to play.

“When he signed I was thinking he’s been about, I hope there’s no arrogance about him - and there wasn’t.

“He was someone to look up to and learn from rather than fight with and be annoyed about.

“The biggest thing I took from him was the way he carried himself in goal.

“I feel I’m a technical keeper and he’s more mental-based where he can deal with anything, opposition fans throwing abuse at him and all that.

“There’s an arrogance about him on the pitch - not off it - and you can learn from the way he carries himself and play with no fear.”

Covolan’s mental influence proved invaluable when Earle played in those three Kent Senior Cup matches.

“Where I wasn’t playing, it was more the mental side to deal with,” added Earle.

“I felt under more pressure than anybody on the pitch, especially with Lucas performing so well.

“If he wasn’t doing as well, maybe I’d have felt less pressure but I always felt if we lost people would say it was because I was in goal.

“I shouldn’t have put that pressure on myself but that’s just how I felt.”

If Covolan was a joy to work with, so, too, was goalkeeper coach Zach Foster-Crouch.

It was Foster-Crouch who set up his successful loan move to Sittingbourne, keeping seven clean sheets in 15 appearances, and he’s been a huge help.

“It’s been a pleasure working with George the gaffer - he’s someone you’d run through a brick wall for - but as a goalkeeper, Zach was the one for me,” said Earle.

“I enjoyed working with him and he’s still on the phone to me now, even though I’ve left the club.

“He understood me and he improved my understanding and football knowledge.

“Without him, I wouldn’t be the keeper I am now and he’s been an inspiration for getting into coaching, which is what I’m doing all week.”