NICKY DEVERDICS admitted a meeting with Hartlepool United’s management team was enough to entice him home.

The midfielder, Dover’s captain and leading scorer last season, has left the National League club to sign for Pools, and secure a return to the North-East.

Deverdics was part of the Newcastle United youth team from 2004-2006 and was released by then boss Glenn Roeder before Gateshead, Blyth, Gretna, Barnet and spells in Iceland and the Faroe Islands led him to Dover.

He was shortlisted for both the National League player and goal of the season awards and netted 14 times, while racking up 18 assists as he skippered the side to the play-offs.

Out of contract this summer, the 28-year-old weighed up his options before being lured by Craig Hignett and Curtis Fleming to Victoria Park.

“Once I met Craig and Curtis I had a good feeling about them,’’ admitted Gateshead-born Deverdics. “Craig is an infectious character and I felt wanted straight away, he told me how he wants to play and it suited me down to the ground.

“I was happy with those figures last season and I’ve started scoring goals regularly the season before.

“I was in League Two with Barnet and I’ve ended up moving around and I’m in the form of my life now and at that stage I want to keep going.

“It’s nice to be back in the North-East, but it wasn’t one of the things that pulled me here. It wasn’t an issue, I’m used to being away, but it is home and it does make it easier to settle in.

“My goal has been to get back into the Football League and I’ve bettered myself and I’m where I want to be.’’

After rejecting other options and offers to sign for Pools he added: “I didn’t want to go somewhere not knowing where they would be, it’s pointless coming into the league and just surviving. I want to come here and have success – if I felt the club wasn’t looking at kicking on next season I wouldn’t be here.’’