STRIKING hotshot Matt Tubbs became the most expensive player in Cherries’ history and then insisted he was ready to be judged on goals.

Verwood-raised Tubbs is aiming to live up to his prolific goalscoring reputation after joining Cherries following a productive spell at Crawley Town.

As predicted by the Daily Echo, Cherries yesterday swooped to sign the highly rated frontman in a big-money deal.

The 27-year-old penned a three-and-a-half year contract after the two clubs had agreed a package understood to be worth in the region of £800,000.

Although the fee was officially undisclosed, the transfer smashes Cherries’ previous record buy of £210,000 – which the Dorset club paid for Gavin Peacock in 1989.

Tubbs told the Daily Echo: “There is pressure when you go into a club.

“As a striker, you are judged on goals. As soon as I can get that first goal, I am sure the ball will be rolling and, hopefully, it won’t stop for a while.”

When asked if the club record fee fazed him, Tubbs replied: “No, not at all. To be honest, that is nothing to do with me and that is between the two clubs and my representative.

“That is up to them to discuss. I am just happy that the deal has been pushed over the line.

“Now I am a Bournemouth player, I am concentrating on today’s training sessions and the Exeter game on Saturday.”

Former Rossgarth youth player Tubbs was twice with Cherries as a youngster and rejoined his local club on loan from Salisbury City in 2008.

But after eight appearances, his hopes of a dream move disappeared when Jimmy Quinn was sacked, with Eddie Howe opting not to keep him.

However, after scoring 58 goals in 80 games for Crawley, Cherries boss Lee Bradbury decided to add Tubbs to his promotion-chasing squad.

Tubbs added: “This is a new chapter in my career and, hopefully, I can keep the ball rolling with the goals I am getting.

“As a striker, you are judged on goals so I am hoping to pick up as many goals as I can during my time at Bournemouth.

“When I was at Crawley, I was lucky enough to have great players around me and taking the step up, players will be of a better standard.

“So, there is no reason why I can’t, hopefully, try to regularly stay on the scoresheet.”