JASON Matthews has struck his second double deal in a week as Jordan Copp and Mark Cooper have both agreed terms to stay with Weymouth next season.

The retention of the pair comes after the Terras’ player-manager also agreed to keep Billy Lowes and Ashley Wells for next term on Monday, as a consistent Weymouth squad continues to take shape heading into the 2016/17 campaign.

Speaking about snapping up Cooper once again, the Terras’ chief was full of praise for the former Frome Town defender and admitted he had to fight off some competition to keep him at the club.

Matthews told Echosport: “For me, Mark Cooper is the best full-back in the league and he can play either right-back or left back, so that’s an added bonus.

“He was a lad that I watched for two seasons when I first took the job.

“I was pleased when he chose to come to us initially and he has had quite a lot of people after him this pre-season as well.

“He was sought after by clubs that are a lot closer to his home but he showed his ambition and wants to go one better next season with us.”

Also commenting on Copp, Matthews has set the challenge to the former Plymouth youngster to nail down a starting place next term.

“As for Coppy, I feel in the last month or two (of last season) he has shown what he can do,” Matthews said.

“He is trying to make himself not so much of a bit-part player and I urge him personally to kick on next season.

“The ball is in his court. I don’t pick people on reputation and whoever plays well keeps the shirt, the boys know that and I try to be very fair with them.

“Maybe the penny has dropped with him now. I urge him to do it on a more consistent basis and make me pick him.

“If he can do it on a more consistent basis, I am sure he will have a starting place.“

That is not the end of Matthews’ summer dealings however, as he revealed that he is looking to add more faces to his squad over the coming weeks.

He said: “Things are starting to take shape, we are looking forward to next season.

“With a few nice little additions, that I’m sure will come in the next week or two, I feel that we will be up there challenging again.”