Ayunga thanks Hawks boss Doswell for helping secure him a dream move back to the Football League

The club's leading scorer has moved to League One Bristol Rovers on the back of an outstanding National League South campaign.

The 23-year-old struck 18 league goals and in all competitions netted 23 times in 41 appearances for the Westleigh Park outfit.

He was also named in the National League South team of the season.

Ayunga has praised manager Paul Doswell for giving him the platform to perform.

The Kenyanwas snapped up by the Hawks' boss when he was manager at Sutton following his Brighton release in the summer of 2018.

Ayunga was then signed by Doswell for the second year running when he took over at Hawks the following May.

‘Paul has been pushing me ever since I met him at Sutton,' Ayunga told The News.

‘Ever since I met him, this has always been the goal - to do well for him and end up getting a move back to a league club and pushing on from there.

‘That’s been his plan for me as well.

‘I’d just been released from Brighton and a serious injury (Ayunga suffered a broken leg in the summer of 2017) so the season at Sutton was a bit stop-start.

‘I didn’t play my best football but he stuck by me and gave me another chance.

‘At Havant I was completely back from injury and back to my best.

'Paul gave me the chance to get going again.

‘The club gave me the platform and helped me to make my move as easy as possible, whereas other clubs might have stood in the way.

‘I’ve got a lot to thank them for making it very easy.'

Ayunga was one of the hottest properties in non-league last season.

But his switch to Bristol Rovers represents a three-division leap up the pyramid.

However, Ayunga is relishing his new challenge rather than being daunted by it.

'I know it’s going to be a big step up,' he admitted.

‘But they’ve believed in me and taken me there, so there’s no reason I can’t (do well).

'I’m going in already fit from the mini pre-season we had before the play-offs at Havant and now I’m training with them.

‘I’m going in with that base layer of fitness having trained already and had a few 90 minutes.

‘It should help me out.'