Terry Butcher has turned to a veteran striker with a proven record in the lower leagues to fire Brentford to promotion at the first attempt, writes Tony Flood.

Lee Thorpe, who arrived at Griffin Park last week on a two-year contract, has had his nose broken three times but is still prepared to put his body on the line for his new team-mates.

And he is hoping to form a lethal partnership with fellow recruit, Alan Connell.

"I don't mind going in among the flying elbows to win the ball," Thorpe, 31, said. "I have suffered a broken nose three times, cut eyebrows and plenty of bruises when opponents have put their head or boots in.

"But I will continue to go in where it hurts and Alan can feed off me. Like me, he knows where the goal is."

Thorpe, who has netted 88 goals in 324 league games, said: "My highest tally in a season was 17 for Lincoln, and I am hoping to get near that or better this season."

His scored eight for relegated Torquay last term, although he was also called on to play centre-half at times.

The frontman has been a lower-league journeyman, having played for Blackpool, Leyton Orient, Grimsby, Bristol Rovers, Peterborough, Swansea, Lincoln City and Bangor City, but knows what it takes to get out of League "I won't even tell people in my club who we have down training with us this season for fear of Scottish pinching them."

Barnes finished fifth in London One last season and did the double over Richmond, who have since added Russell's former forwards chief Buster White to their coaching staff.

Hatley has come in as his replacement with former Oxford University fly-half Jon Fennell completing the player-coach line-up under Russell's guidance.

And the head coach, who has admitted paying each of his first team matchday squad members a £90 win bonus each game this season, is bullish about the club's chances of success.

"I think if you are in the top three with six to eight weeks of the season remaining it could be anyone's," said Russell.

"We finished eighth in our first season in London One and equal fifth last year. We have shown we can beat the top teams, but we just need greater consistency."