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ALDERSHOT-BOUND: Chris Blackburn

JOHN Hollins has insisted he is not the type of manager that is willing to play the waiting game.

The Weymouth boss wants to complete his squad as soon as possible to ensure the club has the best possible preparations ahead of the new season.

He said: "I think everything is sorted out with James Coutts now but Michael Malcolm and Paolo Vernazza are still thinking about it.

"We are working very hard and we want to make sure we start the new season running. That is why we want to get the squad sorted as soon as we can although I do not mind leaving an opening for something special.

"So far we have had a few little knock backs but if people want to go to bigger and more proven teams for bigger money there is not much we can do about it.

"I am very much a manager who says here is the offer, you have got 48 hours and if you do not want it I will go somewhere else.' "That is why if some of the players wait too long to make a decision it could end up being too late."

One player that the Terras have lost out on is defender Chris Blackburn who has joined Blue Square Premier champions Aldershot Town.

The ex-Swindon Town centre-back enjoyed a fabulous loan spell at the Wessex Stadium towards the end of last season and Hollins wishes him well.

He added: "Blackburn helped us when we needed it and that is the sort of quality we can get. However, a long-term situation is different compared to two or three months.

"He came down here, performed superbly and put himself in the shop window, and everybody ended up wanting him. I now wish him well with Aldershot because he was fantastic for us."

It is also believed that Trevor Challis has sealed a move to Blue Square South side Eastleigh.

Hollins said: "If that is the case and he has gone to Eastleigh then like with Blackburn I wish him the best but we have got to move on. We did that with Ashley Vickers and Jason Matthews, and we will do it again now.

"Trevor did a tremendous job at left back. He is a committed person and because he did well for us at the end of the season it has enabled him to get fixed up elsewhere.

"This business is about taking players on or moving them on and at the moment we are making good progress. There is still a lot of time to go and hopefully we will have some more news soon."

Hollins is also keen to devote more time to the club's youth set up in the future. He said: "I want our younger players involved more. Young Jamie Frampton has shown good potential and he is one of a few I want to educate and work on."

10:12am Friday 16th May 2008

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