Coutts confident
By Adam Summers

Thursday 25th January 2007

AFC BOURNEMOUTH loanee James Coutts reckons the Terras still have enough quality in their squad to claim Football League status in the near future.

The Weymouth-born 19-year-old, who has been drafted in until the end of the season, made his debut in the disappointing 4-0 Nationwide Conference National defeat at Exeter City on Tuesday but he has seen enough in training to remain optimistic about the club's future.

The Terras have lost five players to permanent moves since they axed ex-manager Garry Hill and his assistant Kevin Hales and announced that the club was in the middle of a financial crisis on January 10.

Coutts said: "I look at Ben Smith and I am not sure what his situation is at the moment but you can tell he is a quality player.

`A lot of the lads have League experience and they are definitely capable of getting back there. Obviously a few more players are needed in the squad now but things still look promising.

"It will be good for me to play a few games because I have not really been in the first team this season at Bournemouth. The new manager is bringing in his own players and I am out of the picture at the moment.

"Playing for Weymouth has always been something in the back of my mind and it is great to be back here.
It is a good feeling playing for my hometown club and hopefully I will be able to help them out."

Terras player-manager Jason Tindall called Coutts as soon as he landed the hot-seat at the Wessex Stadium last week. The 29-year-old has been keen to add to his squad after witnessing the permanent exits of Abdou El Kholti, Simon Downer, Steve Tully, Lee Elam and Shaun Wilkinson.

Ex-Didcot Town striker Stuart Beavon has also been drafted in on a deal until the end of the season. Coutts said: "I know Jason from when he was at Bournemouth and we have always kept in touch. There
was a possibility atone stage that I might come down under the old manager (Hill) but it did not happen.

"The day Jason got the job he gave me a ring and asked me what my situation was and like I said it is great to now be down here."

When asked what his reaction was when he heard that Tindall had become the Terras' chief, Coutts
added: "It was a big surprise. I don't think anyone said that Jason would be a manager but in training things have been excellent.

"You can tell he has learned a lot from Sean O'Driscoll (former Cherries' boss) through the methods he has been using and I am sure he will be successful."