WEYMOUTH’S director of football Paul Maitland is backing Brandon Goodship to be a big hit with Southend United this season.

Goodship was snapped up by the Shrimpers earlier this summer after scoring 75 goals in two successful seasons with the Terras.

And Maitland is certain Goodship has what it takes to light up League One.

“Brandon was incredible here,” said Maitland.

“It was pretty much a goal a game ratio and that’s not to be sneezed at.

“It wasn’t just his goals, it was also his assists because in both seasons here he was our main provider.

“But you’ll get to see he’s a proper finisher and I think he will do well.”

Goodship, who was back at Weymouth for Friday night’s 2-2 draw, arrived at the Bob Lucas Stadium after spells with Bournemouth and Yeovil.

And it did not take the 24-year-old long to make an impression with 30 scouts often in the stands tracking his progress.

“I can remember in his first season here a director of football from a National League side rang me and had a go because we hadn’t started Brandon in a game he had come to see,” said Maitland.

“There were 30 scouts there that night and it just didn’t suit us to play him.

“He’s had lots of people watching him in truth and we were a little bit surprised it took as long as it did but there’s no surprise the interest did come in the end.

“I hope he’s the next gem to go on and my parting words to him were ‘I don’t want to see you back here unless you’re 33 or 34’ because he’s been given a second chance and he has to make sure he takes it.”

Goodship had been with Bournemouth and Yeovil before signing for Weymouth in 2017.

And it was the forward’s relationship with Terras boss Mark Molesley which led him to lining up at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

“Our manager here had him at Bournemouth,” said Maitland.

“He knew him from there and he was quite local to us. Most of our squad had played youth team football at Bournemouth and he’d had a couple of injuries there.

“He went to Yeovil but it didn’t really work there so we told him to come here and said we would get him back into the Football League if he trusted us.

“He came here, he embraced everything we did and he fully deserves this opportunity.”

Goodship wasted a good late chance to score in Friday’s draw in Dorset.

But Maitland is certain it will not be long until he is finding the net on a regular basis.

“When the ball falls to someone to win you the game you want it to fall to him,” said Maitland.

“He scored a lot of important goals for us and you can’t buy that. It’s a knack and he has that.

“It’s a good move for him and long-term it will be a good move for Southend too.

“It might take him a few games and he has to get used to the day-to-day rigours of football but once he gets the first goal he’ll get more and he scores all types of goals too

“We’re very pleased for him that he’s moved on and we wish him well. If Southend can get him firing, they’ll have a great season.”