Not the news Maidstone fans would have wanted to hear today. Jack Barham has today left the club for an undisclosed fee to join fellow National League side Aldershot Town, despite the club best attempts to keep the Striker he has elected to depart the club to guarantee himself National League football for next season.
Speaking to the club website the clubs Chief Executive Bill Williams said that Jack had been “Brilliant for the club” as well as saying the club would have “loved him to have stayed for a couple more seasons, but fully understand his desire to still play at this higher level of football , which we cannot guarantee” seemingly disappointed to see such a vital player leave the club at such a pivotal time in the clubs survival push.
Barham joined the stones in August 2021 and I think it’s safe to say he was a fan favourite during his time with the club netting 28 times in 71 appearances. He was a huge part of the Stones side which won the Vanarama South title in 2022.
The club have been bouncing between the National League & Vanarama South in recent years this period of inconsistency has followed what would be considered to be the most successful period in the clubs history under Maidstone legend Jay Saunders stewardship, since Saunders departure it’s safe to say Maidstone have been to both extremes of utter brilliance in promotion and complete disarray in relegation.
In a week that saw the club crash out of the FA Trophy against Barnet it’s fair to say times a pretty bleak for the Kent club, dead bottom of the National League it looks like another drop back the the Vanarama south unless current caretaker boss George Elokobi can pull of one of the National Leagues great escapes but with the club currently 12 points from safety it certainly will be a mountain to climb.
Nine games to go, 12 points adrift and the clubs top scorer leaving is the writing on the wall for the county town club?
Writers View
At this point as much as Stones fans will still hope for a turn around, a great escape if you will I can’t help but feel like it’s too late for this season to be saved. Knowing what I know about the club, they will 100% fight till the death but they will also be realistic enough to start preparing for life back in the Vanarama South.
The issues at the club appear to go deeper than just on the pitch, the fans are becoming ever impatient with the owners and after an investment into the club fell through earlier this season, many felt at this point it’s simply just going to be rinse and repeat or normal service or disappointment in the National League for the Stones.
I have to say though, from the experience I’ve hand first hand with the club Terry Casey and Bill Williams love the club and will do everything in their power to ensure the future of this club is bright despite the current situation on and off the pitch I’d like to think that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the Stones.
