Ryan Huckle admits he overlooked offers at a higher level in favour of returning to Faversham this summer.

The defender spent part of last season on loan at Salters Lane, where he managed 22 appearances in Bostik South East.

Having been released by Gillingham in June, the 19-year-old was subject to interest from National League South clubs before opting to re-sign for Town.

Huckle said: “It’s the place I wanted to be. For me it was a no-brainer.

“I had offers in the Conference South but I felt Faversham was the best place to push on.

“When I was on loan there last season I got on really well with (managers) Phil (Miles) and Danny (Chapman), so that was a big factor in me going back.

“Once I left Gillingham I knew I would have to make some decisions. I had offers from higher divisions, in the Bostik Premier and the Conference South, but I just felt going back to Faversham was guaranteed game time.

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“I get on with the managers and know they can give me the foundation to build on. It’s not all about status for me.

“ I could have been released by Gillingham and gone straight into the Conference South just to say I play for a team in that league.

“It’s not about money or status, you need to improve your game and that’s the only way you’re going to develop.

“A lot of players will just waste away in a club’s under-23s set-up, not really getting much game time.

“Some will go a whole season having only played a couple of games. I don’t think you develop at all doing that, so part of the reason for going to Faversham is hopefully to play every game and be a key player.

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“I realised I just needed game time. I needed to go and play men’s football, to work on my game and work my way back up. It’s not always about choosing status and money.

“I want to go there, I want to be a leader and I want to show what I can do in that league.”

Reflecting on last season, Huckle deems Faversham’s fight to avoid relegation as useful experience in the early stages of his senior career.

He added: “I think it cultures you as a player.

“There are lots of different scenarios you could be faced with in football, but when you’re battling relegation and it really means something to the fans and the managers whose jobs are on the line it cultures you as a player.

“It certainly improved me as a player last season. I’m a much better player having had that loan move than when I was just sitting there in the under-23s at Gillingham.”

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