Luke Rooney rejected offers from Football League clubs to join Maidstone United for the rest of the season.

The former Gillingham midfielder believes United are the perfect club to help him rediscover his love of football.

A combination of factors left Rooney, 23, questioning his future in the game.

A big-money move from Gills to Swindon started well enough when Rooney helped the Robins win League 2. But he found himself frozen out by former boss Paolo Di Canio and was later told he could leave the club.

Loan moves, including Crawley this season, didn’t work out and Rooney became a free agent when Swindon cancelled his contract in December. He even played a game for haart of Kent County League side Stansfeld in January before joining United last week.

Rooney said: “I had three or four offers from league clubs but I needed to join a team where I’d be playing straight away. As well as the league offers, I had a couple in the Conference and another club in the Ryman League which was the most money of them all.

“But it wasn’t about money. I want to get my love and my appetite for the game back and Maidstone’s the perfect place.

“It made sense to join a non-league club where I’d be playing and could get my enjoyment back. I’m one of those players who genuinely only gets fit by playing games.”

Read the full interview in Friday's Kent Messenger.