STEVE Claridge believes the prospect of Salisbury going head-to-head with Hereford in the league next season helped attract former Gosport Borough teammate Justin Bennett to the Ray Mac.

Whites' head coach completed the signing of the highly-rated frontman, 33, on Wednesday night.

He fended-off competition from Havant & Waterlooville, Hungerford Town and Poole Town - all clubs higher up the football pyramid - to be reunited with his old striking partner.

The pair played together at Borough in 2011/12, the season they got promoted to the Southern Premier.

In the 2012 play-off final against Poole Town, Claridge came off the bench to snatch a late equaliser and force extra time, in which Justin scored before Claridge sealed a 3-1 win.

The 50-year-old, whose side will twice be locking horns in much-anticipated clashes with fellow phoenix club Hereford in the Evo-Stick Southern League Division One South and West, said: "You say we played together up front," joked Claridge. "Well, I ran around and he scored goals.

"I told him that if it wasn't for me and my goals, he'd still be at South and West level with Gosport and I'd have got him cheaper!

"Seriously, he's a good all-rounder, reasonably quick, reasonably good in the air and with a good record when it comes to injuries. He can play in a system of either one up front or two. What really sets him apart, though, is that he is a fantastic finisher. His record tells you that.

"All we are asking him to do is what he has been doing for Gosport for nine years.

"In a funny way, it helps with signings that Hereford are in our league. They are one of the biggest clubs in non-league and people want to play in those types of games."

Bennett, who turns 34 next month, is the Privett Park's outfit all-time record scorer with 263 goals.

He was third top scorer in National League South last season with 23 goals for Gosport, scoring 32 in all competitions, including three hat-tricks.

Last October saw Havant and Waterlooville lodge a £10,000 bid for Salisbury-based Bennett.

The sought-after striker cancelled his contract at Gosport last month due to off-field issues and has since been chased by other clubs.

But, despite lucrative offers elsewhere, Bennett plumped for his hometown club, the place where he started his career as a teenager.

"Fair play to Justin, he's come to the club for the right reasons and not money," added Claridge.

"There were four clubs in for him, the other three all at a higher level, and I know we were offering the least money. In fact, one club was offering virtually double our final offer.

"But it's his hometown club and I think he can see the club has got a freshness and a good feel about it. It's professional and run well now."

Bennett will be unveiled tonight at Salisbury's Party on the Pitch, where the new club's kit will be modelled by player Eddie Perrett and Sophie Newton.