Former Gillingham, Dover Athletic and Tonbridge Angels striker Frannie Collin has signed for Maidstone United.

The 26-year-old striker joins the Stones after announcing his departure from Tonbridge Angels a couple of weeks ago.

Maidstone is the fourth Kent club for the prolific centre forward. He joined Gillingham in 2005, scoring on his debut in a 2-0 league cup win. When the then Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler moved to Dover Athletic, Collin joined him at the Crabble and his 21 league goals were crucial to the Whites’ promotion from the Ryman Premier Division.

After leaving Dover at the end of the 2009/10 campaign, he signed for Tonbridge Angels and in his first season at Longmead he scored 21 goals in 43 appearances – 16 of those in the league. Another promotion from the Ryman Premier Division was added to his CV and in the following Conference South campaign he won the Golden Boot after bagging 29 league goals.

Jay Saunders said: “This is a massive signing for us. When I made him an offer I knew there were other clubs in higher leagues chasing his signature. It says a lot about what the club has achieved in the past year and how ambitious it is that someone of Frannie’s pedigree has agreed to join us.

“Despite speculation, we haven’t paid silly money – we don’t have to. It’s all about sensible offers, the opportunity to play for a club that’s going places and the lure of that bumper Gallagher Stadium crowd.”

Collin, who links up with former Tonbridge teammates Lee Worgan and Rory Hill, will return to Longmead on Thursday 25 July for a pre-season friendly against Tommy Warrilow’s side. Kick off is at 19:45.

Meanwhile, Ade Olorunda, whose goals in the play-off final helped Maidstone United secure Ryman Premier Division status for next season, has left the club.

Ade signed for the Stones last summer, alongside his brother Tim, and made 42 appearances (22 starts, 20 sub), scoring 18 goals.

Writing on Twitter Ade said: “Great regret that I will have to leave Maidstone. This has nothing to do with Tim, but due to work and tax implication. Gutted, gave my all and would do it again thanks Jay and Wardy.”

Stones boss Jay Saunders said: “I am gutted to lose Ade but understand his reasons. His goals in the play-off final will go down as a highlight of our first season back in the town. The whole squad will miss him – his all round attitude and commitment are first class and we wish him every success in the future.”