PROUD family man and Preston North End defender Scott Laird has backed his brother Jamie to be a hit at Weymouth next season.

The 26-year-old Lilywhites’ left-back, who started his career as a trainee alongside his younger sibling at Plymouth, tipped the Terras to achieve success next term and believes the club have a classy capture in the form of Jamie.

“He is a very good defender and a football playing defender which is something that is very rare in the lower leagues,” the PNE man told Echosport.

“He also played for Scotland at under-16s in the Victory Shield and in the under-17s he was captain, he was very highly thought of at that level, not just at Plymouth but around the footballing world.

“We are quite close in age, Jamie is only 13 months younger than me and we played a lot of football together. We were at Plymouth and Jamie unfortunately broke his leg which put him out for a good 12 or 13 months, so he went to the non-League and still made a good living out of it.

“When you break your leg at that age ultimately football clubs aren’t willing to wait for you, but he has got a very good job now, played a good standard of football and he has enjoyed himself, which is amazing.”

Alongside younger brothers Callum and Craig, who are playing football for Bridgwater Town and in the America respectively, Scott Laird talks of a competitive nature among the four brothers as they progressed.

He said: “It was nice growing up, we always wanted to better each other but we always supported one another. There were four of us and we were always playing at different times but always supporting each other.

“Like brothers are, they are always competitive and we still compare and look at how many goals we have scored now, but at that young age we loved playing football together.”

Former Stevenage man Scott, who made 42 appearances for North End last term, insists his brother will play a key part in Terras’ boss Jason Matthews’ philosophy of an attacking, fluid style.

He added: “Even if it is not going Jamie’s way or the team’s way, he will never shy away from being on the ball and his passing range long and short is very good, that’s what Weymouth fans will see the most.

“You will see a good leader and a big voice, he is very vocal and is strong and powerful in his running. You will never see him shy away from playing football either, he will always look to get the ball off the keeper and start attacks off.”

And having risen through the non-League ranks himself, Scott Laird also has fond memories of his trips to the Bob Lucas Stadium.

“When I was in the Conference with Stevenage, Weymouth were there as well with Stuart Beavon and all the others.

“I always loved going to Weymouth, it’s a lovely set up down there by the coast with a good ground.

“With the league they are in now, they are obviously there for a reason, but ultimately that ground and that set up shouldn’t be in that league, they should be in the Conference.

“I always keep track on the lower leagues and I know Weymouth have a very good squad.

“I know Yettsy (Stewart Yetton) from my time at Plymouth and he is a goal scorer and a good striker.

“They have a very good team there and I know the manager had nothing but positive things to say to Jamie. He has had some training sessions already and they have all said that they want to play football the right way.”