MANAGER Colin Lane is backing his former Fawley AFC charge Rob Flooks to be a hit at Gosport Borough.

The 19-year-old central defender, excelled for the Oilers in the Sydenhams Premier Division in the early part of last sea son and quickly caught the eye of Conference South outfit Eastleigh who snapped him up for their reserve side.

In May Flooks picked up the reserve team players’ player-of-the-year award at the Spitfires’ end-of-season presentation night.

But, with the likes of former Football League players Dean Beckwith and Chris Todd ahead of him in the pecking order, Flooks’s chances of breaking into the Eastleigh first team appeared slim.

However, the talented teenager could get more of a look-in at Conference South newcomers Gosport who have already made him part of their squad and involved him in pre-season.

“Gosport have signed Rob and, at 19, he’s hungry for it,” said Lane.

“His ambition is to be a pro footballer and he’s climbing that quickly that he’s got to be in with a chance.

“Playing in that league (the Conference South), he’s putting himself in the shop window.”

Much as Lane was disappointed to lose Flooks last November, he takes a certain pride in seeing the former AFC Totton and Sholing reserve player progress.

“Rob was with me at Totton’s reserves and then went back to Sholing for a year,” he said.

“He played four months for Fawley last season and did so well that he was really missed when he went.

“If Fawley don’t pay money, we’ll never hang onto players like him, which is frustrating.

“But you don’t mind as much as long as players move on to bigger things.”