Paxman ready to stake his claim
HELLO AND GOODBYE
Jack Paxman is ready to step into his mentor’s shoes, writes Craig Tucker. Maidstone start the National League campaign without key midfielder Joe Healy, who is expected to be away travelling until the end of September. Former Southend youngster Paxman excelled alongside Healy for much of last season and is one of several options for Stones boss Jay Saunders as he works around his star man’s absence. Paxman said: “Joe helped me out massively last year. He was someone I looked up to as well. It’ll be different but we’ve got people like James Rogers, who’s experienced at this level. “You look at the likes of Dan Sweeney, who likes to get on the ball and Jack Evans, who’s technically good and we have the players. Replacing Joe is going to be hard but we’re all up to the challenge. “If I don’t start the first few, when I my opportunity, I’ve got to take it but I’m used to that. I did it last year when I wasn’t expected to play and when you do well, you stay in there. “With the league we’re going into, it’s going to be more of a footballing league. It just boils down to who’s doing well and using the squad well so everyone’s fresh.” Paxman, 22, made the bench in his Southend days but never actually played in the Football League. It’s been his ambition to return to the professional ranks and he’s as good as done it by reaching the National League with Maidstone. He said: “You look at the teams in there and it’s ridiculous. “You’ve got some real top teams, some top stadiums and a lot of them are full-time, so it’s going to be almost like playing league football. It’s a big step up but we’ve all got players who want to play league football and they’re more than capable of doing it.” get Ben Greenhalgh (Concord) Kevin Lokko (Welling) Tom Murphy (Dover) Anthony Acheampong (Ebbsfleet) Jack Evans (Eastbourne) Alex Akrofi (Concord, loan) Matt Bodkin (Hastings) Manny Parry (Margate) Charles Banya