HIGHWORTH manager John Fisher played a key role in the process that led to Mark Flanagan signing at Swindon Supermarine this week.

The defender had been playing for Hellenic League Premier Division side Oxford City Nomads before he put pen to paper on a deal at the Webb’s Wood Stadium.

And Marine boss Dave Webb has admitted that he was convinced to sign the youngster, who can play left-back or centre-back, by feedback from Fisher.

The Elms chief watched Flanagan play in Nomads’ 4-1 win over Highworth on December 7 and was impressed with what he saw, which he then passed on to Webb.

“My good friend Mr Fisher watched him and he is a good judge of a player,” said Webb.

“I had the pleasure of watching Mark once before and I got Fish to follow it up and he gave me a good report.

“I’m really pleased to get Mark, I think he’ll be a great addition and hopefully he can come and show everyone what he can do.

“He’s young, has played in this league before (with North Leigh) and having trained with us, has settled in really well and looks a really good player.

“It’s a real positive statement to bring in someone like that. I’m over the moon with it.

“I think it’s a really exciting signing and he can be anything he wants to be.

“To get someone in to replace Danny Allen who made 300-odd appearances for Marine was hard, but hopefully we have found someone who can blossom.

“It’s about getting the right type of player that ticks all the boxes. I’m sure Fish would have him on loan any time.”

Marine are scheduled to entertain Mangotsfield in their first Southern League Division One South & West fixture of 2014 tomorrow.

Skipper Dave Bampton starts a three-game suspension but wide man Josh Morse is expected to recover from a chest infection.

Webb is hopeful that the game will beat the weather and that January will prove more fruitful on the game-playing front than December – in which Marine managed just three matches.

“I’m fairly positive it will be on and great credit goes to Roy Heather and the team down there who have been doing work on the pitch,” said Webb.

“They are all tough games but we want to get a run going and if we can have a good January then we’ll be right back amongst it.

“I’ve got every confidence in the lads that we can do it as we don’t want to be a team that turns up and is turned over.”