SALISBURY have won the race for Gosport Borough top gun Justin Bennett.

The sought-after marksman – a target for Poole Town, Havant & Waterlooville and Hungerford Town, among others – has signed for Steve Claridge's newly-crowned Sydenhams Premier Division champions.

Bennett, 33, Borough’s all-time record goalscorer, triggered a stampede for his services when he asked for his Privett Park contract to be terminated.

Signing for Salisbury is like coming home for the striker, who lives and works in the city and started out with Salisbury’s reserves before moving on to Andover, Eastleigh and Gosport.

Bennett told The Echo’s sister paper The (Salisbury) Journal: “Although I spoke to Poole, Hungerford and a couple of other National League South clubs, it was actually between Havant and Salisbury in the end.

"Despite Havant being the better option financially, the lure of playing for my home town club was just too much.

"It's exciting times at the club.

"They are in a false position in the (Southern One) South & West Division and, in my opinion, having been to a few games recently, it's clear to see they are run like a club that should be at least National League South level. So, for me, I don't see it as a step down."

Despite signing a new deal at Borough at the end of last year which would have seen him stay there until 2017, Bennett had his contract terminated.

Issues off the pitch saw him announce his departure from Privett Park last month.

He also wanted to concentrate on exams for his job at Chestergate Financial Planning on Crane Street, Salisbury, where he is a paraplanner.

Bennett, who is off to Thailand on holiday next week, will return for pre-season with Whites, who face big guns Bristol Rovers and Portsmouth in July friendlies.

He added: "I am just eager to meet my new teammates and get started now."

Salisbury boss Claridge, who played with Bennett at Gosport towards the end of his career, said: “Fair play to Justin, he's come to the club for the right reasons and not money.

"There were four clubs in for him, the other three all at a higher level, and I know we were offering the least money. In fact, one club was offering virtually double our final offer.

"But it's his home town club and I think he can see the club has got a freshness and a good feel about it. It's professional and run well now.

"He's been to a couple of games and seen what we're all about, he knows a few of the lads and can see that hopefully we are a club on the up.

"In a funny way, it helps with signings that Hereford are in our league. They are one of the biggest clubs in non-League and people want to play in those types of games."