JO Kuffour says the prospect of tasting success with Bristol

Rovers was one of the major factors in his decision to join the

club – after spending most of his career with sides battling

relegation.

The 26-year-old striker yesterday signed a deal with the

Pirates covering the rest of this season and the following two

campaigns after completing a £60,000 move from Bournemouth.

He was expected to be named on the bench for today's game

against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Kuffour has been part of a team that has suffered the drop

at his last three clubs – Torquay United, Brentford and the

Cherries, who went down last season and will have to overcome a

17-point deduction in League Two this term if they are to avoid

plunging into non-league football.

Kuffour said: "Going through the experience of relegation

has taught me to be strong and to keep going. Hopefully that

won't be an issue here because the target is promotion.

"I spoke to the gaffer before I came here and I liked his

views. He talked about the squad he's putting together and the

club's ambitions for the next couple of years.

"I know there are already very good players here because

I've played against them a number of times in the past. There

are good players in every position.

"One of the reasons I came here is because this is the

strongest squad I've ever joined. Fingers crossed that we can

get promoted this year."

Rovers first made an approach for Kuffour around two months

ago but were stonewalled by the administrators running the

Cherries at the time.

"We had problems dealing with the administrators, but when

Bournemouth were bought by new owners things were a lot

easier," said Pirates chairman Nick Higgs.

"Jo is a player we have admired for a long time and we are

delighted to have finally signed him. This underlines our aim

to try and get promotion to the Championship as soon as we

can."

Kuffour is also relieved a transfer deal that became further

drawn out when he was hit by a virus last week has finally been

settled.

"It had been going on for a while and Bournemouth were

stalling a bit because they didn't want me to leave," he

said.

"I know Rovers were talking to the administrators at

Bournemouth, who didn't want me to go. But as soon as the new

owners took over there and I expressed a desire to leave the

club, things went quite smoothly.

"I'm very pleased to be back playing in League One. I've

scored goals there in the past and now I'm at Bristol Rovers,

hopefully I can prove myself again.

"I couldn't wait to get things signed and sorted and now I

just want to go out and play football."

Kuffour's addition will see him compete with Rickie Lambert,

Darryl Duffy, Andy Williams and Ben Hunt for a place up front –

although the former Arsenal trainee can also operate out wide.

"Competition is healthy and can only be good for the squad

because it means everyone has to play well if they want to keep

their place," said Kuffour.

"I prefer playing up front but I've played wide on the left

and right before, so that's not a problem.

"I always seemed to score when I played at the Memorial

Stadium in the past and hopefully that can continue for Rovers

and we can push on towards promotion.

"I've not set myself any targets in terms of goals, but I

just want to go out and express myself and hopefully come off

the pitch having scored."

Kuffour arrives at a club who last weekend chalked up their

biggest home win for 18 years when they thrashed Hereford 6-1.

"I was delighted when I saw Rovers had scored six last weekend

because it shows I'm joining a side who are good at going

forward. Hopefully I can get in amongst the goals as well,"

said Kuffour.

Rovers are expected to stick to the same side that has

started all their games so far this season at Elland Road.

Rovers (probable): Phillips, Pipe, Anthony, Elliott,

Lescott, Lines, Campbell, Disley, Hughes, Lambert, Duffy. Subs

(from): Kuffour, Williams, Hinton, Rigg, Hunt, R Green, M

Green.