NEW signing Craig McAllister believes he is the man to fill Craig Reid’s boots and fire Newport County to promotion next season.

The 30-year-old striker signed a two-year contract at Spytty Park yesterday after turning down a new deal at Blue Square Bet Premier champions Crawley Town.

He becomes Anthony Hudson’s first signing as County manager after the Exiles beat the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Luton, Wrexham, York, Fleetwood and Mansfield Town to secure his services.

“Craig did really well here, he scored a lot of goals and deserved his chance to move on,” said Glasgow-born McAllister.

“I scored goals playing out of position wide left last season and the gaffer’s brought me here to play up front so I’m confident.

“I’ll be targeting 20 goals as I always do and I believe I‘ll get that next season.

“This is a difficult place to come and get a result and Newport won at Crawley last year so I know there’s a lot of talent at the club,” he added.

“With three or four additions to the squad and a bit of experience, which I can help with, we’ll be challenging next year.

“The manager is young and hungry for success and we all want to get out of this league.”

The 6ft 1in frontman, who previously played for Exeter City, Oxford United and Grays Athletic, explained why Newport was an attractive offer for him.

“Crawley offered me another year but for various reasons I wasn’t happy with what I was offered so I rejected it and put myself on the market,” he said.

“I spoke to one or two league clubs and three or four others but this move suits me perfectly. My wife has family in the Bristol area and we’ll be moving there and from a football point of view this is a great place to be.”

Hudson is delighted to get his man after weeks of negotiations.

“He’s exactly the type of player we were looking to bring in,” said the Exiles boss.

“He fits in perfectly with our style of play and he’s got the experience of winning the league at this level.

“Craig can be a real hero here. The fans are going to love him. He’s come to score goals and to help us get promotion.”

Hudson is very close to completing a second signing, with a goalkeeper, a centre-back and a central midfielder the targets.

Kerry Morgan and Scott Rogers have also agreed to stay at the club but the Argus understands Jamie Collins is on the verge of joining ex-County manager Dean Holdsworth at League Two Aldershot.

A spokesman for the Shots insisted there has been no contact with Collins but the deal is expected to go through next week after the deadline of June 1 put in place at the time of Holdsworth’s departure.