Maidstone United manager George Elokobi explains why top scorer Deon Moore left the Gallagher Stadium

Maidstone United manager George Elokobi says the person comes first after top scorer Deon Moore left the club.

Moore scored 12 goals in 41 appearances - including 29 starts - after joining from Welling last summer.

It was the most productive season of his career but Elokobi revealed the striker felt he hadn’t played enough games.

The Guyana international, voted player-of-the-month in January after scoring a hat-trick against Ebbsfleet in the Kent Senior Cup semi-finals, has left by mutual consent.

“I’ve always said, in our environment, the person comes first,” said Elokobi.

“Everyone is going to have a role and responsibility at Maidstone United Football Club.

“It’s not about starters, it’s about players who will support from the bench as well.

“There are times when we will rotate the team and the squad.

“It’s important that when a player is not happy with the role they’re playing, like in Deon’s case, that we talk about it.

“We had a conversation and he felt he’s not played enough games. The stats don’t lie.

“In terms of that discussion, it was important we found the right solution for him as an individual and for the football club.

“It’s important everyone is fighting for the same objective.

“We had that discussion with Deon and his representation and we came to the agreement of mutually parting ways.”

Moore had lost his place in the starting line-up after Mo Faal rejoined Maidstone in January.

But Faal’s season-ending knee injury - he ruptured his ACL against Weston-super-Mare - saw the forward return to the XI at Maidenhead a fortnight ago.

He was back on the bench against Dagenham three days later, with Hamzad Kargbo starting and scoring, before making way for Moore at half-time.

That proved to be Moore’s final