Why former Crystal Palace goalkeeper was favoured over Portsmouth's Duncan Turnbull by Hawks boss Paul Doswell

The American had been on a brief trial from the Blues and featured in both the club's pre-season friendlies at Horndean and AFC Totton.

However, Doswell decided to overlook Turnbull in favour of signing former Crystal Palace under-23s goalkeeper Tupper on a one-year deal yesterday.

The ex-Eagles man signed a short-term deal with the Hawks to provide competition to Ross Worner for the National League South play-offs in July.

In that brief stay, Tupper caught the eye of Doswell and he is delighted to have secured his return to the club.

The Hawks boss admitted he was unaware the stopper was available following his Eagles release when he handed the American a trial.

And the fact he can provide permanent competition to Worner this season, as opposed to the potential of Turnbull being recalled by parent club Pompey, proved a crucial factor in the Hawks boss' decision.

‘The decision was did we look at Duncan (Turnbull) for that loan as a possibility (to provide Ross competition),’ said Doswell.

‘But knowing that Pompey might recall him made the decision easier.

‘When I took Duncan in Joe wasn’t necessarily available.

‘He was with Crystal Palace under-23s, had just been released and had interested in him.

‘I think having him in the play-offs and seeing how good he was before that, it was an offer that we made and I’m pleased he’s decided to accept it.

‘We were looking at our situation, looking at Duncan and I’d read a few comments that Pompey could immediately recall him if they wanted.

‘I then spoke to Joe and asked where he was at because we genuinely felt he could offer competition to Ross and if he gets in the team, he’ll be given a chance to stay in the team.’

Doswell reiterated that Worner remains his No1 for the start of the season.

But the Hawks boss felt there was no competition for his place in the team last term.

Now the hope is Tupper can push Worner and provide a healthy battle between the stoppers.‘Ross is the number one at the club and he has been with me for four or five years at Sutton and subsequently with me at Havant last year,' added Doswell.

‘We genuinely felt that there wasn’t any competition last year.

‘We hadn’t made any contact with him because we were assessing our options in terms of whether we were better to go with a loan goalkeeper, which would have been cheaper, or whether we brought in our own goalkeeper to compete with Ross.

‘In the end, having looked around and made decisions, we decided to make Joe an offer and he’s decided to sign.’