Striker Koroma signs for Rovers
MANAGER Dave Hockaday has no fears about keeping seven forwards happy at Forest Green next season.
Rovers yesterday unveiled their fourth new signing of the summer in Omar Koroma, a 22-year-old Gambia international who has played in the Championship with Norwich City.
Koroma must compete with fellow new recruits Magno Vieira, Phil Marsh and Ben Wright for starting berths, while Hockaday will also have Reece Styche, Matty Taylor and James Norwood as attacking options next term.
But the Rovers boss, who worked with Koroma during his time at the Watford and Southampton academies, insists all his players possess the right attributes and attitudes to contribute in a 4-3-3 formation.
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Hockaday said: "OJ (Koroma) has got pace, can score goals and doesn't just play as a striker – he can play in midfield or anywhere on the park.
"I'm very excited about getting him on board and his pedigree will tell you all you need to know about him.
"I've talked to all of the strikers and they're aware of the way we want to play, and it might be that three of them put a shift in for 60 or 70 minutes and we bring three more off the bench.
"Opposition defenders will certainly be worried about that and everyone here has been programmed to that.
"It's part of the modern game and we're going to utilise that tactic."
Ex-Portsmouth man Koroma scored twice as a trialist for Rovers' reserves against Crawley Town last month, a result which secured the Football Combination Southern Division title.
He joined Pompey from Gambian outfit Banjul Hawks in the summer of 2008 and was immediately loaned to Norwich, playing five times in the Championship.
The following September saw him called up to the Gambia national squad, and he won the first of two caps in a World Cup qualifier against Liberia.
However, a serious ankle injury led to him being released by Pompey in 2009 and he spent two years out of the game.
An unhappy and unsuccessful trial at Danish club Brondby had some observers questioning his future, but neither he nor Hockaday gave up on his potential.
Koroma, who has signed a three-year contact at the New Lawn, said: "I never stopped believing and I can't really explain how good it feels to be back in England.
"The gaffer is like a dad to me and I just want to repay him now."
Hockaday expects the Koroma deal to be his last piece of business before the new Blue Square Bet Premier campaign kicks off on August 11.
He added: "We'll be keeping our powder dry now.
"We've got 18 outfield players and three keepers on the books, all of excellent quality.
"If any gem happens to come along then maybe we can have a look at that, but at the moment I've got a very powerful squad.
"We had one of the best defensive records last year and our midfield were dominating games in the second half of the season, plus we'll have a fully fit Chris Todd and Al Bangura to add to the mix."
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