Hawks boss Doswell: Why Bristol Rovers is the perfect club for Jonah Ayunga

The Westleigh Park boss has every confidence the prolific forward has all the attributes to flourish at League One level - three divisions higher than he was playing in 2019/20.

Ayunga, 23, was yesterday officially unveiled as a Rovers signing - a day after The News reported the move was imminent.

The fee is undisclosed but represents the second five-figure sum received by the club in as many months following Alfie Rutherford’s switch to divisional rivals Dorking Wanderers.

Doswell, who has worked with Ayunga at the Hawks and Sutton in each of the past two seasons, has no doubt he can make the grade in the third tier of English football.

In what turned out to be a one-season stay at Westleigh Park, the Kenyan netted 23 times in 41 outings.

Eighteen of those came in the National League South - including his final goal for the club in last weekend’s 2-1 home play-off semi-final loss to Dartford.

Another four came in the Hampshire Senior Cup, including a hat-trick in a 7-0 romp against a youthful Pompey XI.

Doswell is confident the goals will continue to flow for Ayunga - should his chance arrive at Rovers.

‘It’s a great move for Jonah and a great move for the club as well,' he said.

‘He can 100 per cent (perform at Football League level).

‘Jonah’s got all the attributes.

‘He’s got pace, two good feet and on his day he can be a beast.

‘He’s got every attribute needed to be a good striker at that level.

‘I’ve got every confidence he can do it, I really have.

‘I think from Jonah’s point of view and from ours as well, sometimes the step can be too big.

‘It can be too big of a club or too big of a step up in level.

‘But Bristol Rovers is a perfect move for him.

‘We know (Rovers head of recruitment) Tommy Widdrington really well.

‘Tommy understands non-league players having been at Eastbourne Borough and managed at that level.

‘It’s a perfect move for him.

‘Sometimes clubs can be too big and you can get swallowed up by too many players being there.

‘But I think Bristol Rovers can be a fantastic club for him.'

Doswell signed Ayunga - who has penned a two-year contract at Rovers - at former club Sutton following his release from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2018.

The player had joined the Seagulls from Dorchester Town in 2016, but never made a first team appearance for the club.

Ayunga then followed the manager to Westleigh Park last summer, making an instant impact with two goals in each of his first two friendly outings.

Although admitting Ayunga still has plenty of improvements to make, Doswell has been delighted to see the forward's development.

‘He’s been a two-year project really,' he added.

‘Whilst he got a move to Brighton when he was very young, he was put into an academy system.

‘I don’t think that helped him, if I’m being honest.

‘He drifted around in the academy and it wasn’t really something that worked for him.

‘He came out of the academy system to me when I was at Sutton and was able to get going.

‘It’s been great working with him, it’s been great seeing him develop as well.

‘But he’s put the hard work in and that’s the key thing.'

Rovers, managed by Ben Garner, could certainly do with some new strike talent.

Last season they only netted 38 times in 35 League One matches - only Mk Dons and Shrewsbury scored fewer among clubs that weren’t relegated.

Only three Rovers players scored more than two league goals in 2019/20 (and two of them only scored three!)

Jonson Clarke-Harris, with 13, was the only man in double figures.

Rovers first showed interest in Ayunga last autumn, and though other clubs were monitoring the striker they were the only ones to table a formal bid.

As Doswell said, ex-Southampton midfielder Widdrington knows the south coast non-league scene well.

He managed Salisbury prior to a five-year spell at Eastbourne Borough which ended when he left Hawks’ divisional rivals by mutual consent in April 2017.

He has been Rovers’ head of recruitment since May 2018, and shortly after he took the job his youngest son, Theo, was signed after being released by Pompey.

Theo had spent a loan period at Hawks in 2017/18, and was loaned out to Bognor Regis in 2018/19. He was released by Rovers earlier this summer.

Clarke-Harris has been linked with a move to the Championship - he is seen as a lower division version of Watford’s Troy Deeney - but it is believed Ayunga has not been signed as a direct replacement.

Garner said Rovers had scouted Ayunga on numerous occasions during 2019/20.

‘He's another player that we have looked at extensively over a long period of time,’ he revealed. ‘We feel that the qualities he brings will enhance the squad we are assembling.

‘Jonah has had an outstanding season in front of goal and I’ve been really impressed by both his desire to join us and his hunger to improve.

‘He's coming off the back of featuring in the National League play-offs for Havant and Waterlooville, so he's in good shape to join up immediately with the rest of the squad.’