ONE-TIME Eastleigh target Jason Prior will spearhead Havant & Waterlooville's quest for immediate promotion back to the Vanarama National League South.

With Hawks boss Lee Bradbury intent on signing more local players following relegation from Step 2, he said signing 27-year-old Prior was "a no brainer" with the deadly marksman out of contract at neighbours Bognor Regis Town.

Portsmouth-based Prior banged in 40 goals in 57 appearances for Bognor last season and it was that prolific strike rate that caught Eastleigh's eye back in 2011/12 when he was set to join the Spitfires for £12,000.

But the deal dramatically fell through when Prior's agent rang Eastleigh to say the marksman was going on trial with Newcastle United.

When nothing came of those Toon trials, Prior, who had scored goals galore for Moneyfields and Bognor, went on to play for AFC Wimbledon, Dartford, Gosport Borough (loan) and Margate before returning to the Rocks two seasons ago.

In the absence of a free-scoring marksman, it was attacking midfielder Scott Donnelly who led Havant's goal charts for the last couple of seasons.

Donnelly, though, has left Westleigh Park and will be staying in the VNL South having penned a one-year deal for Margate.