Jake Cassidy is ready to enjoy his football at Maidstone again after escaping "negative" Hartlepool.

Cassidy, who is out of contract in the summer, has played his last game for Pools after returning to United on loan for the rest of the season.

The striker thrived during a three-month loan at the Gallagher and rejected other offers in order to come back.

He was recalled by Hartlepool in January, scoring against the Stones, but was dragged down by negativity on the terraces and wanted to get out.

Cassidy said: "I don't think they're good to many people, to be fair.

"If it's not going well it's a bit poisonous. That's the stigma around the club. It's just a negative club.

"A lot of people from the club have come out saying that and I don't think it's something that's going to change, unless they get promoted, which they're not going to do this year.

"I don't listen too much to what the fans think but there's a lot of players who do go under once it turns and it's a shame for the club because there's some good players who aren't fulfilling their potential because they're getting slated every week."

It's quite the opposite at Maidstone where supporters appreciated the big forward's all-action game and tireless running.

He had chances to go elsewhere after asking to leave Hartlepool but wants to help Maidstone stay up.

Cassidy said: "I felt comfortable at Maidstone.

“Everyone was very welcoming, from the chairman to the fans, and it just felt like a club I wanted to be at and where I was performing.

"You've seen for yourself with Hartlepool, the negativity and everything around it. It was just nice for me to get away.

"I had options elsewhere but when you put everything into perspective, the way I was treated on and off the field by Maidstone, it's nice to repay a bit of faith and come back and try and finish the job we started and stay in the league.

"I've only got six months left on my contract at Hartlepool and I'm not going to get a new one there so I thought I just need to get out and play and get in the shop window again and hopefully keep Maidstone in the league.

"We're only six points off it and there's a lot of games to play.

"The players are more than capable of staying in the league and it gives me an extra buzz being back here. I can't wait to crack on."

Cassidy and Stones player-coach Simon Walton helped keep Guiseley up in difficult circumstances two years ago and the Welshman is confident Maidstone will get out of trouble.

He said: "When I left Oldham we both went to Guiseley and we had seven points and were pretty much certain to go down.

"We managed to keep them up, obviously not me and Simon single-handedly, but we were a major factor.

"Si will have told the management staff here what I'm like as a player on and off the field and it hasn't deterred them so it can only be good."