Wayne's world is looking good
By Paul Baker

Monday 4th July 2005

NEW Terras striker Wayne Purser today revealed reuniting with boss Garry Hill was a chance `too good to turn down'.

The 25-year-old, who has signed a two-year deal with Weymouth, admitted he is relishing the prospect of working again with his former Hornchurch boss.

And Purser, who joined the Terras from League Two side Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee, says he has no qualms about dropping three rungs of the football ladder into Conference South.

He told Echosport: "Once Mark Wright was named manager at Peterborough United, I knew he would want to bring his own players in and I would probably need to move on.

"I didn't want to rush an important decision about my career which is why things took a little while to sort out.

"I knew a few clubs were interested in me but I only actually spoke to Weymouth.

"Once I did and came down and looked around the facilities, I knew joining the Terras was the right decision.

"A big reason for that was the chance to work again with Garry Hill who was my manager at Hornchurch.

"I've got an awful lot of respect for him and I'm really looking forward to help build something successful at Weymouth under Garry.

"He is a terrific manager whose record in the non-League game speaks for itself.

"Garry wears his heart on his sleeve and is tremendously passionate but who is fair at the same time."

Purser, who begins full-time training with his new club at Redlands today, added: "What excites me about joining Weymouth is that there is a lot of potential at the club.

"I was shown around the ground, facilities and training ground and everything is set up for us to go a lot higher than Conference South."

After banging in 15 goals in 17 games for Hornchurch at the start of last season, the former Barnet ace continued to find the net at Peterborough, scoring six times in 13 appearances.

"As a forward you always tend to get attention when you score goals and that was the case at Hornchurch where I was pleased with my form," said Purser.

"Once I moved to Peterborough, who were in League One at the time, I didn't get as many but still netted a few.

"To be honest, the gulf between Weymouth's level and League One is not as great as people might think. As a striker, it's all about getting in the right positions and taking chances, no matter what level you are at."

Purser, who will compete for a starting place with fellow out and out strikers Kirk Jackson, Daniel Webb and Chukki Eribenne, plans to relocate to the area from his Peterborough home.

"I know a few of the lads already at the club," said Purser, "so I don't think it will be that hard to settle to the club and the area.

"I know Kirk Jackson and Steve Clark from my time at Hornchurch, while Andy Harris was at Leyton Orient the same time as me.

"It's good to meet up with them again and I'm looking forward to what will hopefully be an exciting season."