RHOYS Wiggins is vowing to play his way back into Cherries fans’ good books after returning to the club for the fourth time in his career.

Wiggins today became what the Echo understands to be Eddie Howe’s final transfer window addition when he joined Cherries for a nominal fee from Sheffield Wednesday, believed to be in the region of £200,000.

The 28-year-old defender, who penned a two-and-a-half year deal, has been drafted in to provide cover for first-choice left-back Charlie Daniels.

Wiggins was one of Howe’s first signings in management when he joined Cherries on loan from Crystal Palace in January 2009, helping the club preserve its Football League status.

He returned for a second loan spell and played a key role as Cherries won promotion from League Two in 2010 before signing permanently and helping the club reach the League One play-offs the following season.

Wiggins was part of a player exodus in the summer of 2011, with the circumstances of his acrimonious departure to Charlton leaving a sour taste in the mouths of some Cherries supporters.

News of his imminent return – which had been revealed exclusively by the Daily Echo on Saturday – was greeted with a barrage of vitriolic comments on various online platforms.

Wiggins told the Echo: “It didn’t surprise me. I always got booed when I came back here as a player and knew there would be some fans who didn’t want to see me back.

“I had three great spells here and we achieved quite a lot. At the time, I just felt it was the right opportunity to progress my career. I felt I was playing well and, in football, you are one injury from never playing again so you have to strike while the iron is hot.

“Sometimes, you just have to take the opportunities in front of you. Charlton did a good sales pitch and were reassuring about what they were hoping to achieve.

“You never know which direction football clubs are going to take. You never know if an owner is going to come in with ambition and take the club forward. It happened here just months after I had left.

“I’m not the first player to have returned to a former club and won’t be the last. It would be nice if those supporters who didn’t want me to come back could wipe the slate clean. If not, then hopefully I can win them round with some good performances on the pitch and get them back onside by playing good football.

“I will certainly be working hard to do that. In my three previous spells here, we stayed up, won promotion and reached the play-offs. The club achieved a lot and I feel we can achieve more in the future.”