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There’s good news for Maidstone - Charlie Seaman is staying for the rest of the season.
Parent club Doncaster have confirmed they’re happy for him to see out the campaign at the Gallagher.
That’s a big boost for the Stones’ National South promotion hopes with on-loan Seaman one of their top performers.
A right-back by trade, he’s flourished in a new role on the left wing, scoring five goals for Hakan Hayrettin's side.
He’s benefited from regular football and is happy to stay at Maidstone.
Seaman said: “I spoke to Doncaster in the Christmas break and they thought the best thing for me was to stay here for the second half of the season, and obviously I had no problem with that.
“As long as I’m playing and improving and getting fitter, that’s the main thing.
“If I can help this team get as high as we can, that’s a positive, and then if I’m back at Doncaster for pre-season I know I’m hitting the ground running because I’ve been here all season playing games.
“I’ve definitely improved as a player since I’ve been here, 100 per cent.
“I hit the ground running and in a sense that’s down to what you do outside the club.
“I worked hard in the first lockdown and that helped me when I went up to Doncaster on trial and then when I came here, to try and get myself in the team.
“Every game I’m trying to improve and learn from Jim (Stannard), Hak and Terry (Harris) and I travel in with George (Elokobi). There’s not a better person to learn from than him.”
Seaman originally joined Maidstone on loan from Bournemouth but played only one game before Covid halted last season.
The Cherries let him go in the summer and he joined Doncaster after impressing boss Darren Moore on trial.
Fortunately, Moore - a good friend of Stones boss Hakan Hayrettin - was happy to let Seaman return to the Gallagher.
“I had an inkling my time was up at Bournemouth because I hadn’t been round the club too much,” said Seaman.
“I’d been on loan in Scotland, came back for pre-season and then went straight on loan to Eastleigh.
“Whatever happened, I thought it was the right time to part ways and move on to something new.
“I thought Doncaster, being a League 1 team, was a great move.
“I’ve come here on loan to gain that match fitness and experience so that when I do get a chance at Doncaster I’ll be ready to go. That’s perfect for me.
“As soon as I heard I was getting released, that was the plan for me, and that’s how it’s worked out, so I can’t complain.
“My agent did well to find Doncaster. A few of the boys that are with my agency went on loan there.
“There was a keeper from Stoke and one of the boys from Brighton and they did really well.
“My agent spoke to Doncaster about me while he was sorting out their loans and they said they would have a look at me.
“I went up there for a week and played against Man United under-23s and did pretty well.
“I spoke to the gaffer after that and he said he wanted to sign me and see if he could make me a better player.
“That was a great moment and to come here on loan was even better because I know I’m playing every week, especially with the amount of games we’ve got.”
Seaman found himself in his natural position for the first time in Stones colours at Eastbourne on Tuesday.
He was shifted to right-back during the first half as part of a defensive reshuffle.
Seaman, who scored Maidstone’s opener in a 3-2 win, said: “The last game I played at right-back was on trial at Doncaster and before that it was January 1 last year, so it’s basically a year since I last played 90 minutes there.
“It was nice to be back in my favourite position but as long as I’m playing, that’s all that matters.
“If Hak puts me in goal, he puts me in goal.
“It didn’t feel strange being back at right-back because I’ve played there at a good level over the last four years.
“If I was going to move somewhere I’d feel comfortable, it would be right-back, all day long.”
Seaman has enjoyed his role out wide, though, and can be more than pleased with his goal return.
“As a full-back, I’m a lot better attacking than I am defensively anyway,” he said.
“From the start of pre-season Hak played me forward and when I came on loan last year, the one game I did play was on the left wing, so he does see me as more of an attacking player.
“I started the season well, with a few goals, so he kept me where I was.”
