Nicky Forster will be spearheading Brighton's promotion drive this season after moving closer to his roots following a move from Hull. The 33-year-old has signed a three-year deal to ply his trade with the Seagulls and manager Dean Wilkins has finally captured his man. He bid £100,000 for the speedy striker in the transfer window and is optimistic the former England Under 21 international can pep up Brighton's potency. A record of 146 goals in 488 League appearances for Gillingham, Brentford, Birmingham, Reading, Ipswich and Hull proves Forster's predatory instincts are alive and well. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson logged the thoughts of Forster as pre-season is nearly upon us once again.
Q:IS PROMOTION A REALISTIC AIM THIS SEASON?
A:There's a good young squad here, with a lot of promising players. As the manager has told me, part of the problem last season was that they had three periods when they lost five games in a row. He feels the squad just needs that injection of experience, which I have, and that can help nurture these youngsters into better players. A core of them have now had first team experience. Hopefully they can push on this season and be that little bit better and more consistent. I think a reasonable achievement would be to finish in the top six, either automatic or the play-offs. I think that would be success, even if ultimately we didn't go up.
Q:DID THE FACT IT WAS A MOVE CLOSER TO HOME HAVE ANY BEARING ON YOUR DECISION?
A:It is good to be home but it is certainly not the only reason why I chose Brighton. I had other options, which were local as well, and a Championship option as well but Dean Wilkins and Dean White spent a lot of time convincing me this is the right place to be. The management team and the chairman convinced me that Brighton are a club really trying to push on and, along with the hope for good news on the stadium, that it is a club on the up.
Q:DO YOU THINK PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THIS IS A STEP DOWN FOR YOU AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE OUT YOUR CAREER AT THE AGE OF 33?
A:I can see that but if people have a look at me in more detail there are certain pointers that show I am not like that as a character. For one thing, I was told I was surplus to requirements at Hull in December last year and I ended up finishing second joint top scorer and runner-up in the player of the season. If I was that way inclined and wanted to just coast along then I certainly wouldn't have achieved that. Hull were happy to keep me for next season and financially, without going into detail, I would have been better off staying with them. I have stepped out of the Championship, which was a big decision. A lot of people have advised me not to step down unless you have to, because it makes it more difficult to step back up again. If I didn't believe Brighton's ambitions matched mine then I wouldn't be here. It is far from being just a location based decision.
Q:YOU HAVE A GOOD GOALSCORING RECORD – WHAT ARE YOUR AIMS FOR THIS SEASON?
A:I expect to have a certain return per season and I am definitely not happy if I am not scoring goals. I don't like to commit too much but if a striker can get up towards the late teens, early 20s for the season then he has done pretty well.
Q:DO YOU REGRET NEVER HAVING PLAYED IN THE PREMIERSHIP?
A:At one stage, just as I left Reading, I had a chance to join a Premiership club rather than Ipswich. But I would have just been part of a squad and I wanted to be a first team player. Do I regret it? Possibly in a way but I think we make decisions for the right reasons and I am not one to look back.
