MANAGER Steve Riley tipped Matt Finlay to be a key man for Bashley next term after securing his return to the Recreation Ground.

Free agent Finlay put pen to paper on Tuesday morning in a move that saw him rejoin the club he left two years ago.

The utility man first signed for Bash in 2008 following the end of his apprenticeship with Cherries.

After cutting his teeth in the senior game with the New Forest outfit, he took the chance to step up and spent two seasons with Basingstoke in Conference South.

But Riley, who said he had always left the door open for Finlay’s return, expressed his delight after persuading the 21-year-old to switch back to the Southern Premier club for next season.

Riley told the Daily Echo: “He can play in a number of positions and has got a sweet left foot.

“Our league is quite a physical league and Matt is 6ft-plus and he is an athletic, hard-working player.

“He has got a great engine and can run all day. He will get about the pitch and give us a different dimension.”

Riley revealed that he was likely to utilise Finlay on the left side of midfield, although he is also capable of playing at left-back, centre-half and in the middle of the park.

Finlay’s arrival follows that of striker James Stokoe from Wimborne Town last week.

Bashley’s squad has also been boosted in the close season by a number of star names committing themselves to the club. Dave Allen and Mark Gamble are among the existing players to have already signed new contracts.