CHARLIE Clough intends to make the most of his Forest Green chance, writes Tim Ashton.

The 24-year-old former Bristol Rovers centre-back joined his new team-mates on Monday after signing an 18-month deal from Conference South side Sutton United, making 74 appearances and wearing the captain’s armband into last season’s play-off semi-finals.

Clough told the Sutton Guardian: “Rovers is a really good club with excellent facilities and some truly great players.

“For me this is a good move, at 24 I still feel I have something to offer and this is my shot at a higher level of football.

“If I can help Rovers push on, then maybe there’s a crack at the Football League, and that is the ultimate goal.

“This is my big shot, and it is probably my last. I intend to take it, and fingers crossed it works out.”

Clough signed off his Sutton United career with two goals in five minutes, and a good luck message for his old team-mates.

He said: “United have been so unlucky this season with referee decisions and injuries.

“But they have some big characters in that dressing room, who I am 100 per cent certain will push United on.

“Relegation is not an issue, no way, and although it’s been a tough season, this is not me jumping ship.”

He added: “I have had a great time at United, I have some excellent memories and I will miss a lot of the guys, and the staff there.

“It was an honour to be made captain, and I wore that armband with huge pride.

“Paul [Doswell] has been great to me, and he told me that Rovers were interested and we decided it was a good move, there was no way he would stand in my way.”

“This is my big shot, and it is probably my last. I intend to take it, and fingers crossed it works out.”