KEEPER Nathan Vaughan says he was “blown away” by manager Carl Heeley’s vision for Worcester City.

The 32-year-old is champing at the bit to start the new season after joining the Conference North outfit from Kidderminster Harriers.

While it is a move away from full-time football, Vaughan has been impressed with the set-up at the nomadic club, who play at Aggborough.

He believes Heeley and assistant Matt Gardiner are assembling a squad that can make a significant improvement on last season’s 15th-place finish.

“I am really looking forward to it, it’s a new challenge,” Vaughan said. “I had a great couple of years at Kidderminster and I learned a lot. I felt I matured a lot on and off the field and I hope that’s going to be valuable at Worcester.

“I was in and out at Kidderminster, which was very frustrating, but when I spoke to Carl I was just blown away by his thoughts and what he wants to achieve and what he feels they can achieve. I really couldn’t turn it down.

“Looking at the squad, last season was a massive under-achievement and I think they are aware of that. But it’s a learning curve and they have kept the majority of the squad and added to it.

“It’s going to be a good season and they are going to prove a few people wrong. I really do feel that the sky is the limit to what this club can achieve now.”

He continued: “It’s going to be a challenge because I was in training every day at Kidderminster and it does help a lot, I didn’t realise how much.

“On the flip side, from what I have seen in training at Worcester it’s fantastic and I can’t see it being a major issue, we make the most of our time together.”

Yet, although ex-Evesham keeper Vaughan is full of enthusiasm for the upcoming campaign, he admits he will have to prove his worth between the sticks against Jose Veiga.

“You have got to fight for your place, at this level it’s very much a squad game,” Vaughan said.

“I can’t look to say I am number one because when you feel that you can sit back sometimes and it is not about that, it is about keeping on training hard.”