Scott Taylor is relishing the chance to guide Lewes's youngsters through their debut season in Blue Square premier.

The experienced striker signed a one-year contract with the Rooks last night after joining from Grays Athletic.

Taylor, 32, has made 400 League appearances since joining Millwall as an 18-year-old in 1995 and turned down other offers to join the Rooks.

Manager Kevin Keehan has been chasing Taylor for a few weeks and hopes the frontman can be a wise head in a predominantly young side at the Dripping Pan next season.

Taylor knows the size of the task ahead for last year's Blue Square south champions but is looking forward to the challenge.

He said: "We know it will be tough but every season is tough.

"We need to knuckle down, work hard and get a good team spirit going. We need to make ourselves hard to beat and hopefully we can play a bit of football as well."

Taylor has been transferred for six-figure fees on four occasions in his career. He cost Bolton £150,000 when they signed him from Millwall in 1996 and then switched to Tranmere in a £350,000 deal two years later. Plymouth splashed out £100,000 for him in 2004 and Milton Keynes Dons paid the same fee in January 2006.

Taylor has also played for Stockport, as well as having loan spells at Rotherham, Brentford and Rochdale, and has featured in two cup finals.

He was in the Tranmere side that lost 2-1 to a Leicester team featuring the likes of Emile Heskey, Robbie Savage and Tony Cottee in the Worthington Cup final at Wembley in 2000.

Two years later Taylor returned and scored for Blackpool when they beat Cambridge United 4-1 in the LDV Vans Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium.

A fractured leg suffered at MK Dons effectively ended his League career, having scored 79 goals, and he joined Grays in the January transfer window earlier this year, scoring a hat-trick in only his third game for the club against Welling in a cup tie.

Keehan's persistence and some encouraging words from old team-mates helped pave his move to Lewes.

Taylor said: "I had interest from a few clubs but a couple were too far north.

"I didn't know where Lewes was but a couple of mates have played for them and they said it is a great little club. I know Ian Selley, who was there last year, and I played with Anthony Barness at Plymouth.

"I thought it was only fair to talk to them so I came down three weeks ago.

"Kevin Keehan has been superb. He has kept in touch, been patient and waited.

"I have been training and there are some young players but they are decent players.

"Hopefully people like myself and Barny can help them along."

Taylor rates the likes of Mick McCarthy, Steve McMahon and Danny Wilson among the best managers he has played under while his best years were at Tranmere and Blackpool.

He said: "At Tranmere I played out on the left wing and we got to the cup final. We lost 2-1 but it was a great day.

"I played as a striker at Blackpool and scored a lot of goals (61 in two seasons in all competitions) as well as getting to the LDV Vans final."

Keehan's interest in Taylor was first revealed in The Argus three and a half weeks ago and the Lewes manager is delighted to get his man.

He said: "Scott is a quality player. He is a goalscorer but also has the ability to bring other players into the game.

"We have been chasing him for a little while and it has paid off. He had options but he has decided now is the time to go part-time."

Lewes kick off their pre-season away to St Francis Rangers next Tuesday before hosting Albion on July 19 (3.00). That game will not be all-ticket with gates opening at 1pm.

Meanwhile, the club have announced Lewes-based Bradley Property Management as their new back of shirt sponsor for the coming season.

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