Hegley leaves Stones to become a Vicker

WINGER Nick Hegley, 27, has opted to drop down two divisions into the Kent League, to sign for VCD Athletic.

Hegley has made the decision to leave Maidstone United after three seasons, with less than two weeks before the Ryman Premier League club report back for pre-season training.

Joint-boss Alan Walker, speaking to www.maidstoneunited.co.uk, is sorry to see the player leave the club.

“Nick has been a great player for us over the last three years but he has decided that at the age of 27, he wants to be playing pretty much all the time and he doesn’t want to be spending time on the bench,” said Walker.

“We offered him a good deal to stay but we cannot guarantee him first team football and so he has decided to join the Kent League side.

“We are disappointed by Nick’s decision but he goes with our very best wishes and we have parted on very good times.

“Who knows, perhaps we will one day see Nick back in a Maidstone shirt but for now he is a VCD player.”

The Crayford based club have former Maidstone United defender Paul Foley as their manager with former Stones’ players, including Leroy Huggins and Richard Sinden, in their ranks.

Vickers have finished Kent League runners-up for the last two seasons, losing the title to Whitstable Town the year before last, and Thamesmead Town.

Walker also gave some more bad news, this time concerning midfielder Sam Tydeman.

“Sam has been working very hard over the summer to get fit and he has lost three quarters of a stone in this process,” he said.

“Unfortunately though, Sam has suffered a reoccurrence of the groin injury which has plagued him for the last year.

“Sam had been playing with the injury last season to help Lloyd (Hume) and I out but he is now suffering for that and he will now not be able to continue with his pre-season preparations for a month.

“At this moment he is taking anti-inflammatory drugs and he is waiting for a cortisone injection which he hopes will resolve the injury.”

On a more positive note, James Peacock is returning for pre-season and Walker has a number of reserve team players and trialists who will be aiming to establish themselves in the squad.

“There will be plenty of combinations of players for us to look at in our pre-season fixtures,” added Walker.

Quotes courtesy of www.maidstoneunited.co.uk