AFC TOTTON will have a new centre-back in the ranks at home to Larkhall Athletic tomorrow (7.45pm).

The Stags have swooped for former Eastleigh defender Jack Vallis, who spent pre-season with Weymouth after parting company with Sydenhams Premier Division champions Salisbury, writes Wendy Gee.

A former England Schools international, Wiltshire-based Vallis includes Amesbury, Downton, Frome and Gillingham Town among his former clubs.

His arrival ends a painstaking search by Totton to find a partner for the experienced Pat Wilson at the heart of defence.

It was very much a team effort getting Vallis on board with chairman Andy Straker giving his full support and Wayne Mew, a valued member of the backroom team, instrumental in the signing.

“Wayne had Jack on a dual-signing from Eastleigh when he was managing Romsey,” manager Steve Hollick explained.

“We tried to get Jack across when he moved to Frome, but Wayne’s stayed in contact and the next thing I know he told me Jack wanted to come and meet me.

“It’s really good for us to get Jack. It’s been our Achilles heel trying to get a partner for Pat.

“Tony Rolls has done well but he's been blighted by injury, so we’ve had to resort to moving Ian Oliver inside, but that’s not ideal because he’s a quality left-back.”

With Rolls sidelined again, Sam Roberts had an unexpectedly excellent debut alongside Wilson in Saturday’s 3-2 win at North Leigh in the Southern One South & West.

“Centre-halves are like buses,” smiled Hollick. “We’d already done the paperwork for Jack on Friday and little did we know Sam would come in and play so well.

“But that position has been a real problem for us since Pat and Monkey (James Roden) played together. They had a real quirky partnership which seemed to work well. But we lost Monkey to injury and never really replaced him.

“We’ve also been talking to another centre-back. I’d like to thank the chairman who’s done an exceptional job helping us to get a squad together.”