DAN HOLMAN says Cheltenham Town are getting a striker determined to help them back into the Football League after his Colchester move turned sour.
Sitting top of the National League, Gary Johnson's Robins have bolstered their promotion push with the signing of the 25-year-old who has scored 14 goals on loan at Woking this season.
It brings an end to a frustrating time at League One Colchester after signing from Braintree Town in July 2014. Holman played only a handful of games for the U's before loans at Wrexham, Aldershot, Dover and the Cards.
“It's good to get Colchester off my back really,” Holman said. “When I signed I was thinking, ‘Brilliant, I've made it into the League'. I was under Joe Dunne, who was brilliant.
“I was enjoying it and coming off the bench as you'd expect coming from Non-League into League One. He was just easing me in and getting me used to it. Then he went and the next manager (Tony Humes) wasn't like a normal appointment where he would look at everyone. It was more using the youth team which was their policy.
Permanent
“I didn't want to play for the U21s because I'd been playing in the Conference and I want to be progressing so I said I'd go out on loan.
“I've been playing against men since I was 15 and I didn't want to be playing against 16-year-olds. So it's good to get another permanent move and hopefully I can achieve something.
“It's definitely made me think you've got to be careful and pick the right place to go. Speaking to Gary Johnson, Cheltenham is definitely the right move for me.
“Obviously, I thought Colchester was at the time but you never know what will happen in football. Cheltenham are really stable and the gaffer is doing a really good job. Hopefully I can add to that and use my experience at Colchester as a drive to get back into the League.”
Cheltenham, who have also signed Cian Harries on a one-month loan from Coventry City, fought off competition from other clubs to land the former Long Buckby and Histon striker.
He's signed until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move if they win promotion.
“Hard work got me to where I was before and I don't see why it can't again,” he said. “I spoke to the gaffer a lot and he said everything I think in my mind about football and where I want to be, winning things and being at the right club to become a better player.”
