CHRIS McPhee has revealed to Echosport the process behind pulling off the signing of former Exeter City defender Pat Baldwin.

And the Terras’ player-coach, who is also in the process of organising next month’s pre-season tournament at the Bob Lucas Stadium, claimed the former Exeter City centre-half will prove a huge asset to the club next term.

Baldwin, 32, penned a one-year deal with Weymouth earlier this month after not being retained by the Grecians.

Describing how the move came about, McPhee told Echosport: “I spoke to Pat in the summer on a coaching course and told him that I was at Weymouth as a player-coach.

“As soon as I heard he had became available I instantly just thought ‘do you know what? We could do with someone like him’.

“Before you know it, I had taken his number and passed it on to Jason (Matthews — player-manager).

“I spoke to Jason on the evening of our presentation and just said ‘look, take this number, ring this guy and he will be a fantastic signing for us and will be just what we need’ and Jason has done the business in getting him on board.

“He managed to go down and meet him, Pat understands what we need and it’s a great signing for us.”

Weymouth midfielder McPhee, who was part of the Terras’ group that fell away in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division last season, indicated just what former Colchester man Baldwin will bring to the club.

“He is a strong centre-half and is very organised, very experienced, and very vocal on the pitch,” McPhee claimed.

“We did concede a lot of sloppy goals. We were a little bit disjointed at the back and disorganised last season and, the fact that we now have someone in who is going to be a physical presence as well as a vocal leader is great.

“We have now just got to get ourselves fit and sharp for the season. I’m hoping we can get that extra half a yard out of everybody so that we are a little sharper and quicker and the experiences of last season should give us a little bit more up top as well in terms of nous.”

  • McPhee has confirmed further entertainment and activities for the club’s pre-season tournament on Saturday, July 18.

As well as Torquay United and an AFC Bournemouth XI set to take on the Terras, there will be bubble football on the pitch at the Bob Lucas Stadium (from 11am-12.45) and human table football throughout the day (from 11am), both costing £3.

A bouncy castle has also been organised for the day as well as the chance to play FIFA on an Xbox, both at a cost at £1.