Seth Twumasi faces Rochdale in the FA Cup knowing he could be playing Football League opposition every week.

Twumasi is enjoying an extended stay at the Gallagher after inadvertently scuppering a move to League 2 Cheltenham by playing for Maidstone in the Kent Senior Cup.

It was due to be a one-off appearance, with Stones short of defenders for their first-round tie at Bromley and Twumasi in need of a game after leaving Newport in the summer.

But having signed forms with Maidstone, he could no longer join the Robins outside the transfer window following a change in the rules.

Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson, who managed the right-back at Peterborough, Northampton and Yeovil, told Twumasi he’d been silly.

The defender took it on the chin, accepted Jay Saunders’ offer to keep playing for Maidstone and has been one of their best performers in recent weeks.

He said: “I got a call from Cheltenham the day after the Bromley game.

“I went over there, trained, the manager was happy, offered me a contract but I couldn’t sign because I’d signed a National League form to play that Bromley game.

“The manager is someone I’ve worked under for many, many years, Gary Johnson.

“He said basically I was silly doing it but the rules have only just changed.

“You want to play as high as possible but I believe everything happens for a reason.

“I’m here, I’m enjoying playing again and getting out there.

“I feel like I’m playing well and I’ve settled in well.

“Credit to the boys because they’ve made me feel welcome. I feel at ease here.”

Cheltenham are keeping an eye on Twumasi’s form at Maidstone, sending a scout to last week’s game at Sutton, and could go back in for him in January.

The 26-year-old wants to get back in the Football League although playing part-time gives him time to concentrate on other interests.

He said: “We’ll see what happens. I’ve got a football academy back in Ghana and playing here gives me time to work on that.

“I go to Ghana every summer to have a look around, see what players are doing what and what we can do for them.

“There are plenty of talented players there - plenty.

“We’re just out there, scouting, and organising trials to see where the next Michael Essien is going to come from.

“If they’re good enough, we’re able to bring them over to England.”