Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell has explained his decision to sign a new goalkeeper.

Harley Earle started the campaign as the Brickies’ new No.1 after joining from Maidstone.

But the 21-year-old has lost his place to another ex-Stones stopper in Dion-Curtis Henry.

Henry, who’s played in the Football League for Peterborough, has kept clean sheets in his first two appearances.

He helped the Brickies to a 4-0 Isthmian South East win over Phoenix Sports on Tuesday last week and enjoyed another shut-out in a 1-0 FA Cup second qualifying round win at Lordswood on Saturday.

Earle was back in goal as a much-changed Brickies side lost 4-1 at Erith Town in the Velocity Cup last night.

“No keeper should just think they’re going to play and maybe that’s a little bit my fault, I didn’t bring another number two in and Harley may have got a little bit comfortable,” said Maxwell.

“He’s a fantastic talent, Harley, a talent-and-a-half, believe me, but I just felt he’d made a couple of mistakes recently and that could be because he just thought I’m going to play and you’re not super-focused.

“I thought let me change that, let me bring in some competition.

“Yes, he’ll be gutted he hasn’t played the last couple of games (before Erith) but he’s a young man, he’s only 21, which is very young for a goalkeeper, and he’ll be better for this experience he’s going through right now.”

Henry, who’s also been on the books at Crystal Palace, helped Hornchurch win the Isthmian Premier title last season.

He started this season with Hanwell Town and Sutton Common Rovers, who Bourne beat in the FA Trophy a fortnight ago.

Maxwell believes the 27-year-old will bring out the best in Earle.

“Harley came here to be No.1 but you’ve got to earn that,” said the Brickies boss.

“I didn’t want to make the change and ultimately Harley’s got to look at himself and go, ‘Right, OK, that happens, what have I got to do now?’

“The talent is blindingly obvious, I’m a big, big fan of Harley, I just want him to take the challenge on.

“In Dion, we’ve brought in a guy with great quality.

“He’s a bit older than Harley, he trains well, he’s been around and I think that will be good for Harley as well.

“It’s about standards because when you are the only keeper, the standards you have will be your own but when you’re competing with someone, you’ll have to match his standards.

“So you might have a sloppy day but if he’s having a good day, there’s no excuse, you’ve got to match him and that’s what competing is about.”

Sittingbourne have been drawn at home to Devon club Plymouth Parkway in the FA Cup third qualifying round after beating Lordswood.

The tie takes place on Saturday, September 28.

It’s the furthest Sittingbourne have been in the competition in 11 years, when they lost 4-1 to Staines.

“I’ve always said it, I don’t care who we get, or where,” said Maxwell.

“I only care for the club.

“I’m not a guy who wants to do things easy anyway.

“I wouldn’t care if we were playing Manchester United away, that’s just the challenge.

“I’d like the club to go on a nice run but my mindset is we’ll beat anyone, anywhere.

“I keep saying it but that’s my job to win games.

“I’m only doing what I’m supposed to be doing or we as a collective management team are supposed to be doing.

“We broke a few records when we first came in but that’s done now. What’s next?

“It’s always nice to improve things but that’s why I’d like a nice run, for the club and the fans, who are phenomenal here.”

Maxwell, meanwhile, has praised winger Henry Sinai, the man whose goal took them past Lordswood.

Sinai was among those released when Maxwell took charge in January 2023 but has come back a different player.

“When I first came here, Henry wasn’t quite up to speed, Sittingbourne hadn’t won in 12 and unfortunately he was a casualty of that,” said Maxwell.

“He came back in the summer and has been absolutely outstanding.

“Talk about attitude. I’ve seen a different player and a different person as well, if I’m honest.

“He’s actually an example of what you can do to turn something around.

“It just shows, if someone gives you a no, not for now, it doesn’t mean it’s a no forever.”

Sittingbourne host Kingstonian in the FA Trophy second qualifying round this Saturday (3pm) and visit Deal in the Kent Senior Cup first round on Tuesday (7.45pm).