CIRENCESTER TOWN manager Adi Viveash has signed the experienced target man he felt his team sadly lacked last season in Julian Alsop.

And Viveash has confirmed his intention to rebuild the spine of his relegated team by adding centre half Kes Metitiri to his squad.

Alsop, just turned 35, has enjoyed a prolific career in league and non league football, but has left Conference South side Newport County after two years, along with several of the over-30s.

Metitiri was offered an extension of his contract at Chippenham, where he played last season, but has also opted to move on.

The Alsop signing is by far the most significant catch made by Viveash and his assistant Oggy Hunt in their short managerial careers.

The 6'4" striker still holds the Cheltenham Town scoring record, having netted 20 league goals in the club's promotion-winning season from Division Three in 2001-2, when he forged a brilliant partnership with Tony Naylor.

Alsop was a regular in the Newport County side for the last two seasons, along with ex-Town loanee Paul Cochlin.

Although he was an unused sub in the prestigious FAW Premier Cup Final win for Newport against Llanelli last season, Alsop did score in the penalty shoot-out win over FA Cup Finalists Cardiff City at the semi-final stage.

Viveash expects Alsop to terrorise defences in the Southern League South and West Division.

"Every centre half in this league will know they have had a game," said Viveash.

"I've played against Jools enough times to know he puts himself about. He has certainly left a few marks on me in the past.

"He's a proper No 9 and a right handful. If we put in the number of crosses we did last season, he will get on the end of them. And, given his size, he is good at set-pieces in both boxes.

"He is also a very funny lad, who will be fantastic in the dressing room.

"He is taking a big drop in class, but he lives in Cheltenham, he's just about to get a work placement while studying accountancy and, with a third child on the way, I don't think he wanted too much travelling.

"We are paying him what he is worth - which is a lot for us - but he is still taking a massive drop in wages.

"Signing Jools shows people around the club and other potential signings that we aim to be serious contenders in this league.

"We have now got three good strikers. Matt Williams and Steve Robertson are going to learn a lot from him."

With Alex Stanley having followed his brother Nick out of the club, preferring to pursue a Southern League Premier career with Yate Town, Viveash has been quick to fill the gap in central defence with the swoop for 24-year-old Metitiri.

The former West Ham trainee and Bristol City player was a Bluebird under Adie Mings last season, having spent the previous two seasons with Team Bath.

While at Bath, Metitiri was voted Players' Player of the Season for 2005/6 and was a member of the England Universities squad that won all three of their matches to take the title at the British University Games.

"Kes is a very talented defender who played against us twice for Chippenham last season," said Viveash.

"He has plenty of pace and was a regular for the Bluebirds up to Christmas, when an injury interrupted his season."

Viveash is targeting a big centre back to play alongside Metitiri and no one would fit the bill better than Cochlin, who enjoyed a brief but influential loan spell with Town last season.

"We have made Paul an offer, but I know Chippenham, for one, are making a big pitch for him," said Viveash.