Louis Carey believes the capture of £2.25 million

signing Nicky Maynard proves Bristol City's Premier League

ambition.

City last week smashed their transfer record to recruit the

highly-rated 21-year-old striker from League One Crewe

Alexandra.

And long-serving skipper Carey claims Maynard's arrival

signals City's intention to again challenge for promotion.

"Paying that kind of money shows we mean business," said

Carey.

"With a week to go before the start of the season, it was

about time we brought someone in. The chairman has put the

money up and it shows our intentions. It's a big investment for

the club to make and it proves we want to be up there

challenging like we were last season."

And Carey reckons the newcomer could be the difference

between success and failure this season.

He reasoned: "Nicky is a goalscorer and we've not had a

player like him in the squad for the last few years.

"I don't want to heap too much pressure on him, but he knows

where the back of the net is and gives us something we were

lacking last season."

Carey is backing Maynard to have the same impact as Tony

Thorpe, the livewire striker who averaged a goal every two

games for City between 1998 and 2002.

"I think Nicky is just as good a player as Thorpy," said the

Bristolian. "He's a box player like Thorpy, but is a lot

quicker. He has pace, good movement off the ball and is a

threat going in behind defenders. He'll definitely add

something to our game.

"If he can score the amount of goals Thorpy scored for us,

then we'll have a chance (of going up) this season."

Careful not to upset the equilibrium of a squad which

exceeded expectations last season, City boss Gary Johnson has

sought to add only a small number of new faces over the

summer.

Maynard and Gavin Williams represent the only newcomers to

date and Carey believes City will benefit from a settled squad

and strong team ethic.

He said: "We have a great togetherness here and all the lads

look out for one another. That's so important when things are

not going right on the pitch.

"When we went up to the Championship in 1998, the club

brought a load of new players in and it upset those who were

already here and upset the balance.

"The gaffer hasn't done that this time. He didn't do it when

he first came here, he didn't do it when we won promotion last

year and he hasn't done it this summer."