Mo Harkin has told Eastbourne Borough fans: "I'm hungry for the challenge ahead."

The one-time Northern Ireland under-21 international is one of four new signings at Priory Lane.

Harkin had his pick of a number of clubs this summer after leaving Havant and Waterlooville but choose Borough because he wanted to play in Blue Square premier again.

There were more attractive offers on the table but the versatile winger has committed himself to the Blue Square premier new boys and now cannot wait to get started.

Harkins, 29, said: "I am ambitious and I want to play as high as I can.

"Eastbourne is a tough journey for me as I live in West London. There were a few clubs in Blue Square south I could have joined which would have been easier for me to get to but I wanted to get back in the premier."

This will be Harkin's third stint in Sussex football after spells with Crawley Town and Lewes.

He began his career with Wycombe Wanderers where he made 73 League appearances and was once the subject of an £800,000 approach from Aston Villa but the move fell through due to injury.

In August 2001 Harkin moved to Carlisle and then dropped into non-league football with the likes of Aldershot, Nuneaton and Forest Green Rovers.

He played for Crawley from three seasons from 2002 before joining Lewes in 2005 and will link up with some familiar faces at Priory Lane.

Harkin said: "I have quite a few friends there already and they cannot speak highly enough of the club.

"People like Paul Armstrong, Marc Pullan, Neil Jenkins, Jay Lovett, Allan Tait, Jean-Michel Sigere and Simon Wormull are all people I have played with in the past.

"Ultimately survival has got to be our main focus this year. The key thing is to get off to a good start.

"Most of the teams with part-time players tend to be the ones down the bottom but it can be done, Histon and Salisbury proved that last season.

"When I was at Crawley in the Conference we were part-time and we did very well."

Last season was one of mixed emotions for Harkin and his Havant team-mates.

They enjoyed a glorious run in the FA Cup which took them to Anfield and a fourth round clash with Liverpool.

Against the odds the Blue Square south twice went ahead, with Harkin delivering the corner from which Richard Pacquette headed the first goal, but Liverpool eventually triumphed 5-2.

In the league, Havant were one of the pre-season favourites but ended up finishing seventh.

Harkin said: "It was a memorable season. We faded away in the league at the end and it was disappointing to miss out on the play-offs.

"Playing at Anfield was a great experience. Someone said to me enjoy every minute because it was go so quickly and they were right. But it was a great day and the Liverpool fans were fantastic."

Harkin now has to impress the Eastbourne Borough fans but if he can repeat the form and commitment he has shown to clubs throughout his career he will not have many problems.

How will Eastbourne Borough do this season?