Omar Koroma pens three-year-deal at Rovers

English Conference National [fifth tier] side Forest Green Rovers have signed Gambia international striker Omar Koroma on a three-year contract, Gambia Sports Online can exclusively reveal.

The Gambia international, 22, previously spent two years at Portsmouth under then manager Harry Redknapp [currently of Tottenham] and also had a loan spell at Norwich during the 2008-09 season.

He was released by Pompey in 2010 and had been trialing with Brondby IF in Denmark, before joining Forest Green on trial. Gambia Sports Online revealed last month that Forest Green Rovers were eyeing the striker and had some clinical performances in the reserves. He even scored a brace in a 2-1 victory over Crawley Town on 23 April 2012, persuading manager David Hockaday to sign him on a three year contract.

Koroma said: “I want to repay the faith that the manger has placed in me and help the club get promoted. I just can’t wait to get next season started.”

Manager David Hockaday was very much delighted to sign the Gambian and he was quoted as saying in an interview, “To get this quality of player is a real feather in our cap. He’s a very good player and his pedigree will tell you all you need to know about him.”

This latest signing is further evidence of the club’s ambitions for the coming season, with both Hockaday and Chairman Dale Vince placing promotion to League Two as a priority for the 2012-2013 campaign.

Koroma is the fourth striker to arrive at the New Lawn in the last two weeks, joining Magno Vieira (Fleetwood), Ben Wright (BraintreeTown) and Phil Marsh (Stalybridge Celtic) in what many will see as the one of the most potent forward lines in the league.

“We’re not a big squad but every single member, without exception, I could play on a Saturday,” added Hockaday. “I’ve got some much faith in all of them. We’re not carrying anyone.”