After signing a three-year deal with the club today, new signing Lucas Akins spoke to the official website about his excitement and clinching the deal.
He revealed that a major factor in his decision to join the club was manager Gary Smith, telling us “I had a good chat with the Gaffer; I could see his ambition and the fact that this is a progressive club, it matches my ambitions. You saw that last season, the team performed very well and hopefully we can kick on this year and hopefully have a similar outcome if not even better.”
He will join up with his new team mates on Friday with his first training session and is available for Saturday’s fixture with Peterborough United on Saturday.
Despite the fact that he will be meeting a lot of new faces, Lucas doesn’t see that as an issue, commenting on the strength of players at the club as another positive when it came to signing for the club.
“I don’t think I’ve come across many of the players aside from playing against them. I’ve had some tough times against them because we’ve got some quality players here.
“I’ll now start getting to know the boys and try and get settled in as quickly as I can and try and add what my strengths are to the team as well.”
Akins was commended for his performance when Tranmere beat Boro by three goals, netting his side’s third, but the exciting wide attacker doesn’t think it was that game that signalled the beginning of the interest from Smith.
“Having spoken with him [Gary Smith] I think he had seen me a bit before then as well. I think I did okay in that game but I think he had seen me a few times and his ambitions matched my own so I think we will complement each other well. I think we could have a good go this season.”
His career began with Huddersfield Town before he spent time in Scotland and then moved onto Tranmere Rovers; it was with the Superwhites that he came into his own. Over 80 appearances in all competitions show a player who was vital to his side, and he admitted that leaving the club wasn’t an easy decision.
“It was a little bit difficult if I’m honest, there wasn’t a lot wrong with the place. I spent two decent years there and managed to play quite a lot of games but I felt that it was time to move on and get a new challenge.
“When I play football there’s a spark and I want to ignite that even further, I feel like I can do that here. I’m looking forward to coming here, it’s a fresh start for me. I’m moving away from the north-west and I’m moving out of my comfort zone but I think I’ll get used to it quickly and it’ll be good for me because all I’ll do is concentrate on my football. I can put everything into it and try and work as hard as I can.”
Despite only playing Boro twice in his career, Akins said that his eye has been on the club in recent years and commented on the progression that the club has made as something that is hard to ignore in the football world.
“I know about the promotions and I know that the club has performed really well in League One. They were so close to a third promotion and you can see that the buzz is still around the club for the new season - I think we have an exciting season ahead.
“The league will obviously be difficult, there are a lot of those so-called ‘big teams’ in the division but we will try and match them and do all we can to be up there and fight for a play-off spot if not even better.”
For your chance to win the shirt that Akins is holding in his picture, signed by the man himself, just buy tickets for our fixture with Peterborough United online! You will then be entered into the prize draw to win this amazing prize.
What’s more, supporters who have already purchased their ticket online will be automatically entered into the draw!