He was loaned out to lower-league sides Blackpool, Northampton Town and York City, making a number of appearances in the Football League.
His career was brought to an end after accidentally being shot in the eye by Sunderland teammate John Oster with an air gun in 2002.
After leaving football, Maley earned a degree in corrosion engineering and established a firm specialising in inspecting offshore oil rigs using drones.
[1] He made his first team debut after starting at right back in a League Cup first round second leg game against York City on 18 August 1998, which Sunderland won 2–1.
[7] His debut came in a 2–2 draw with Southend United in a Football League game on 8 October and made one further appearance in a 2–0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.