PAUL Doswell says the days of Havant & Waterlooville “capitulating” on grim away days are over after signing experienced centre-back Joe Oastler.
Oastler, 30, has joined from National League South rivals Oxford City, but knows the Hawks setup well after spending three years coaching the club's academy.
Doswell has been hugely impressed by his work with the youngsters but says it is Oastler's no-nonsense leadership that prompted him to make a move.
“Joe is a top-class coach, but that's not why we've signed him,” said Doswell, whose side lay ninth in the division when the season was abandoned.
“We've signed him because he's a very good centre-half. I've watched him play for Oxford City six or seven times this season and I think he'll be a fantastic player for the first team.
“What you get with this lad is a proper Pompey boy. He brings that edge to every single thing he does. He's a winner, he doesn't accept second best, and I think he'll bring that out in everyone around him.
“We lacked leaders last year. We've come out and said that. We needed to improve the character of the team so that when we're away from home on a Tuesday night, in the snow at Hemel Hempstead, we don't capitulate like we did last year. With someone like Joe around, that won't happen again.”
Oastler, who also played for QPR, Torquay United, Aldershot Town and Gosport Borough before joining Oxford in 2017, agrees that leadership is his primary skill.
“I think so,” he said. “At Oxford, with the young players they've got there, I've had to help them through games. I think that's a big strength of mine and I'm hoping to bring it here. I shout a lot – that's for sure. But young players need that.”
