PHIL Simkin believes he has landed his very own “flying machine” in new winger Dan Smith.

The ex-Terras, Tiverton and Truro wide man signed a one-year contract on Saturday, making Simkin a very happy Dorchester boss indeed.

Smith, 24, put pen to paper following his first training session with the Magpies and Simkin couldn’t hide his delight when speaking to Echosport after the deal was sealed.

“Dan is a very, very quick wide player - he’s a flying machine,” he said.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have signed him because Dan is a match winner.

“He is a very good all-round footballer with exceptional pace and the ability to go past people and score goals.

“He was going to play in Spain but that fell through and it was just a case of seeing if he was free.

“We were monitoring things with his situation and had to wait and see what was going to happen with our budget.

“It turned out that we were in a position to bring him to the club and luckily he was still available.”

He continued: “He trained with us before signing and he actually said to me it was the best organised training session he had done in non-League football.

“Dan has been impressed with the club and he knows Ben Joyce so they will be travelling up together.”

Smith began his career at Plymouth Argyle before spells with Eastbourne Borough and Truro, who he helped to the Southern League title.

Following stints at Weymouth and Bath City, Smith joined Tiverton last season and was named the club’s player of the year as the Devon outfit reached the Southern League Division One South & West play-offs.

When asked if there would be any more new signings following Smith’s arrival, Simkin added: “There are one or two trialists we are having a look at.

“We’re at the tail end of our budget at the moment so we have to be careful with what we’ve got left.

“I’m very pleased with the way things have gone in the close season, getting Dan Cann and Ben Joyce early was important.”

As well as being pleased with how the first few pre-season sessions have gone, Simkin is also glad to see the Avenue pitch in such a good state.

“I have to mention the groundsman, John Harris, and club director Dave Read for the work they’ve done on the pitch,” he said.

“I’ve never seen it looking so good, it’s in pristine condition, and that’s what we need.”

Meanwhile, the Dorchester chief wished former midfielder Charlie Losasso the best of luck after he joined Conference South side Eastbourne Borough.