Matt Rush believes there was a misconception surrounding his departure from Maidstone United.

Rush left the Stones at Christmas, just weeks after rejoining on loan from Sutton, to sign for National League South promotion rivals Boreham Wood.

He’d been due to spend the rest of the season at Maidstone but the situation changed when the Wood made an offer to Sutton to buy the striker.

Stones fans had already seen Jon Benton’s loan cut short in similar circumstances, with Boreham Wood buying the midfielder from Solihull Moors.

There was further frustration when Rush left and he was booed by travelling fans during last weekend’s play-off final between the clubs, which Boreham Wood won 1-0.

Rush set the record straight after the match.

“I didn’t say I wanted to leave Maidstone,” he said.

“I think there’s maybe a misconception where people thought I just chose to leave. That wasn’t the case.

“I was contracted at Sutton and Boreham Wood came in to buy me from Sutton.

“Obviously, with Maidstone’s finances, whatever they are, nothing was going to be agreed there.

“I didn’t want to stay at Sutton, I wasn’t playing football, so I came here, where I was going to play football.”

Rush scored 17 goals in half a season at Boreham Wood, including nine in seven games leading into the play-off final.

He missed a big chance to grab another one against the Stones but Charles Clayden’s second-half strike was enough to send the hosts back to the National League at the first attempt.

“I came to Boreham Wood and have enjoyed it from the moment I got here,” said Rush.

“I’ve scored a lot of goals and to get promotion is a great feeling.

“I’d have liked to get one in the final but all that matters is the result.

“Maidstone, as I know better than anyone, are a good team, with good staff, so to win the game is a massive achievement.

“The main thing that drew me here was the chairman saying if we go up, we want to go up again.

“Even if that doesn’t happen, the fact the club aren’t just looking to survive, and are trying to achieve something, is important because everyone wants to play in the Football League.

“I feel like I can progress and the easiest way to do that is by getting promoted so I’ll give it a go in the National League next year.

“I didn’t really get an opportunity at Sutton this season so I’ll be very eager to prove what I can do next season.

“I had one start at Sutton and that was it.

“Sometimes not every manager is going to like you, which is disappointing, but look where I am now.

“It was maybe a blessing in disguise.”

Rush was part of the Boreham Wood side who were thrashed 4-0 at Maidstone in March.

It was an unhappy return to the Gallagher for the forward, who initially joined the Stones from Aveley in November 2023.

But the Wood put that behind them to win the final five league games and three play-off matches to secure promotion.

“Losing 4-0, especially for me against my old club, wasn’t a nice memory,” said Rush.

“But we got a win, we changed formation, which helped, and at this club, when you get on a run, we’ve got so many good attacking players.

“We’ve won eight in a row, so what happened at Maidstone was maybe a good result if you look at the bigger picture, but it definitely didn’t feel like it at the time.”