ROB Wolleaston is hoping to put a frustrating year of injury problems behind him by helping turn Weymouth’s fortunes around in the Zamaretto Premier Division.
The 30-year-old, who signed a contract earlier this week that will keep him at the Terras until May 2012, spent most of last season on the sidelines with a knee problem, which was quickly followed by a calf injury.
During that time he left Rushden & Diamonds and had a short stint at Farnborough before becoming a free agent in the summer.
The ex-Chelsea youth product is now looking forward to re-launching his career at the Bob Lucas Stadium and helping the Terras get back on the road to where they belong, among non-League’s elite.
Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Chesham United where Salisbury City loanee Matthew Wright will make his debut for the Terras, Wolleaston said: “I spent most of last season on the sidelines. First of all, I injured my knee and had to undergo an operation. I then came back only to break down again with a calf problem.
“It was extremely frustrating but over the summer I kept myself fit and to be given this opportunity at Weymouth is just fantastic.
“The fact that it is a two-year deal also gives me a bit of security during this stage of my career and now all I want to do is help the club get off the bottom of the table and moving back up the leagues.”
Wolleaston, who scored the sixth goal in Rushden’s infamous 9-0 win over Weymouth back on February 21, 2009, has followed the decline of the Radipole Lane outfit closely over the last two years and is adamant that better days lie ahead.
He added: “It is a club that should not be where it is at the moment, it is as simple as that. It has a good set up and I want to help move it forward.
“It is a great challenge for me at this stage of my career and I am confident that I can be a part of something good here, and help bring some success.”
Wolleaston initially arrived at the Terras on non-contract terms and made his debut in the 3-0 defeat against league leaders Cambridge City on September 18.
Weymouth put on an encouraging display against the table-toppers, only to suffer another loss by the same scoreline in last Saturday’s FA Cup second qualifying round tie at Swindon Supermarine.
Wolleaston said: “In the first game against Cambridge, I thought we battered them and how we lost it 3-0 I do not know.
“We did not deserve to lose and there were a lot of positives we could take from it. However, last Saturday’s performance was very disappointing and now it is important we get down to some hard work and make sure that does not happen again.
“I am confident that we can turn things around, it is just a case of taking each game at a time rather than focusing too much on our position and the points deduction.
“We have got to forget about all that and just concentrate on putting in good solid performances, and grinding out results.”
Wolleaston is also hoping that his two-year commitment to the Terras will help the club retain the services of Cour-tney Pitt, who remains on non-contract terms.
He added: “Both Courtney and I know each other well. We played together at Chelsea and at Cambridge United, and we know each other’s games inside out. If we can keep him here too, it would be a big bonus.”
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