Double swoop
By Adam Summers
Tuesday 20th May 2008
WEYMOUTH have added some samba flare to their squad by capturing
Brazilian defender Marcio dos Santos Gaia.
The experienced centre back has signed a one-year contract
along with Pierre Joseph-Dubois, a 20-year-old striker who
spent last season with Crawley Town.
Santos Gaia first landed on these shores in August 2002 when
he signed for Exeter City.
He made 33 League Two outings during his opening season at
St James' Park, which unfortunately saw the Grecians relegated
from the Football League.
The South American was then one of the club's leading scorers
in 2004-05 with nine goals.
That campaign also saw Santos Gaia feature in both FA Cup
third round ties against Manchester United where his side
held the Premier League giants to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford
before losing the replay 2-0.
The 29-year-old eventually left City in June 2006 and joined
Stevenage Borough where he enjoyed FA Trophy success last year.
A loan move to Grays then followed last November, which became
a permanent deal in January but another loan switch soon saw
him turning out for Halifax Town where he ended up making
nine appearances.
Terras' assistant-manager Alan Lewer said: "Santos is an
experienced player and when he was at Exeter he scored a lot
of goals from set plays.
"Since then he has struggled to settle at the other
clubs he has been at but he is excited about coming here and
left-sided centre backs are not easy to come by.
"He is the type of player we want right through the
spine of our side and with him, Anton Robinson and Stuart
Beavon, with Ryan Williams out wide, things are shaping up
well."
As for Joseph-Dubois, he began his career at Reading where
he progressed through the youth ranks before signing a one-year
professional deal in 2006.
Unfortunately he was then released in January 2007, spending
the rest of that season at Grays Athletic before joining Crawley
last summer.
Terras' boss John Hollins said: "Pierre played against
us up at Crawley but he got injured and had to come off after
35 minutes.
"He is a quick forward that can also go out left or
right, and we are confident he will prove a valuable addition
to the squad."
The Terras are still keeping an eye on developments at Bristol
City in regards to keeper Stephen Henderson and they are also
in talks with several other players.
Hollins added: "Things are continuing to shape up well
and hopefully we will have some more news later in the week.
"We are looking to build quite a young squad with a
19-year-old base alongside a few older heads and I am pleased
with the additions we have made so far.
"Two or three clubs are throwing big money around and
our budget does not go anywhere near what they are offering
but that does not mean we will not be in competition with
them on the field because believe me we will be."
The futures of Paolo Vernazza and Michael Malcolm remain
in doubt with both players still stalling on offers while
James Coutts is expected to sign in the next 24 hours.
* Former Weymouth forward Conal Platt has reportedly joined
Forest Green Rovers.
