Deal for former AFC Wimbledon striker and serial non-league promotion winner Jason Prior was one Hawks 'had to get across the line'

Hawks wasted no time in capturing the striker, who previously enjoyed successive title-winning campaigns in his two seasons at Westleigh Park, just days after he confirmed his Dorking Wanderers departure.

The 33-year-old left the Surrey side where he spent four years following their National League South play-off glory last weekend, as he was unable to commit to the additional travel requirements at the top tier of non-league football.

Despite both Munro and Hawks boss Paul Doswell being away on off-season holidays when news broke of Prior's Dorking exit, the club acted quickly in an attempt to persuade the striker to return to his old stomping ground.

It was a move which paid off with Prior agreeing a one-year deal with an option just two days after his Wanderers departure became public.

And Munro believes Hawks have acquired a striker with many qualities to offer other than just his undoubted goalscoring prowess. ‘When you've got the CV that Jason has got, it was too good a chance for us to miss, really.’ said CEO Munro.

‘Especially with what he did previously at the football club, how he gets on and the rapport he's got with the fans, it was something we feel we had to get across the line as soon as possible because I know he had a lot of offers on the table.

‘We're very, very pleased. What Jason will bring to the club is not just hopefully goals, he'll bring leadership, physicality, experience, so it's a good end to the week.

‘We think that he's still got a few years left in him and we think he's got a few goals left in him. He knows how to get out of the division, he's got that experience, we think he will help some of our younger players.

'We've probably now got four or five leaders in the team which I know Paul (Doswell) wants. We've been talking a lot this week, Paul, myself and Derek, we're pleased to get it over the line (Prior deal).’

During a successful previous spell at the club having arrived from Bognor in the summer of 2016, Prior lifted the Isthmian League Premier and National League South titles back-to-back under former boss Lee Bradbury

His previous stint is sure to have helped Hawks' hierarchy in getting the striker to return, but Munro recognised the club had no time to waste with undoubted interest from elsewhere in a player who now has won four non-league career promotions.

The Hawks CEO added: ‘I got a call earlier in the week from Paul (Doswell) - he's away and I was away - to say that Jason wasn't re-signing for Dorking because they'd gone upto the National League, so basically the same reason he left here when he didn't want to play in the National League because of the travelling.

‘Derek (Pope; Hawks chairman) put our heads together very quickly and we've agreed a deal with Jason and he's signed on for next season.’