DAVID HANKIN has secured a two year deal at Chester.
The 27-year-old midfielder turned down an offer from Conference Premier club Kidderminster Harriers to join the Blues for next season’s Conference North campaign.
“I have signed for Chester because they are a club that are destined to play a lot higher up the leagues,” he said.
“Hopefully in a year’s time I can tell everyone that I’ll be playing at Chester in the Conference Premier. Manager Neil Young told me everything about the club on the back of their two successive promotions and about how Chester want to progress up the leagues – and all of that was definitely an attraction.
“I’ve had two good seasons at Kidderminster, but I thought I needed a change despite being offered a deal there.
“I also wanted to move back to the north and I don’t think there is any better club around here than Chester.
“I think Chester should be definitely be challenging for promotion in the Conference North, especially with the squad the club has.
“Conference North is a tough league and I found that out when I was at Stalybridge Celtic. But I think we will definitely be up there at the end of the season.”
Hankin, who scored twice in 27 appearances for Kidderminster last term, began his career at Preston North End as a trainee before spells at Clitheroe, Bamber Bridge and Stalybridge Celtic.
He added: “I usually play as a right sided player in a four-man midfield, but the gaffer has told me that he does play 4-3-3 sometimes and at Kidderminster I played on the right of the front three, so I can play in midfield or in attack.
“I know I could have done better in trying to get to the back post for a few headers at Kiddy last season, but I’ll definitely be trying to get to the back post and attempting to use my height as an advantage.
“It didn’t take a lot to convince me to join Chester. I knew after my first 10-minute chat with Neil Young that it was the place for me to come.
“I feel that I’ve definitely made the right decision despite having other clubs showing an interest in me.
“I’ve played with one Chester player before – Marc Williams played at Kidderminster with me last season, but I know a few other lads in the Chester squad who have played against me and I’m looking forward to playing alongside them.
“I think the Conference North will suit Chester because teams are given a chance to play a lot more football.
“There is no reason why Chester can’t challenge for a third successive promotion campaign, if not a third successive title.
“I think FC Halifax will be challenging at the end of next season and I know that Harrogate are pumping a lot of money into their club so they could possibly be up there.
“It’s remarkable that Chester managed to attract more than 5,000 people for a game last season because Kidderminster never get crowds like that.
“Knowing that I’ll be playing in front of 3,000 fans at Chester every other week is brilliant.”
Admitting he was delighted with his new signing, Young said: “I enquired about David last year but at that time he wasn’t available.
“Kidderminster also wanted to keep him this year, but he wanted to move from Birmingham to Preston and he is going to play part time which is a bonus for us.
“There were other clubs offering more money for him than us, but I think the lad has bought into what we are trying to do at Chester and he has recognised how big this football club is and thankfully he chose to join us.
“I think after talking to him that he has realised that football isn’t going to pay the bills and I know he is starting to make plans for his future and thankfully he has chosen us for the new season.
“We have struggled at times when we have played 4-3-3 because we haven’t had any natural forwards who can play wide, but David now gives us that option and he also gives us an option on the right hand side and at a push he can also play as a right back.
“It will be important to have flexibility.”
There was more good news for the Blues yesterday when it was revealed that Marc Williams and Levi Mackin had put pen to paper on new deals for next season.