RETURNING hero Daryll Meggatt revealed he knocked back several offers to re-sign with Alloa Athletic for next season.

The defender spent several seasons with the Wasps before leaving for Dundee two years ago, and his comeback was announced late last week after a frustrating couple of seasons.

And he is hoping to replicate what he says was the best football of his career during his first spell.

Meggatt told Advertiser Sport: “I had a few offers from other clubs but with the way we are going to be targeting the title next season, and having been here before, it was always going to be an attractive option. I spent the best years of my career to date at Alloa so it’s nice to be back.

“I left the club on good terms – scoring the goal to keep the club up definitely helped on that front! You are always going to grab an opportunity like that when it comes along because you need to test yourself at the highest level possible. I didn’t really get a chance at Dundee which is why I went down to Ayr.

“We didn’t have a great year at Ayr because we obviously ended up getting relegated but it was still good to play at a decent level. I’ve spent a good few years at that level now and I know what the division is all about. I’m desperate to get back there with Alloa.”

Meggatt is the latest in a long line of players to return to the Wasps for a second spell, and he reckons the club treats its stars the right way.

He said: “There are so many players who either go away and come back or stay for a long period of time. A lot of the boys have spent the best years of their careers at Alloa because they have been so well appreciated at the club.

“There is still a group of boys there from my first spell. The likes of Kevin Cawley and Craig McDowall were here before. A good dressing room usually translates into good performances on the pitch, and hopefully we’ll see the same again. It’s certainly shaping up that way.”

The versatile defender is looking forward to challenging for the League One title, and says Alloa have what it takes to pip the division’s three full-time teams to the crown.

Meggatt added: “Having three full-time teams in the division will make it tough but when we’ve played them before our fitness levels have matched theirs. I don’t think playing them will come as much of a shock to most of the boys.

“Coming so close last season will definitely spur those boys on. To come so close and then have it snatched away from you is heartbreaking. It will give the guys who were already here a boost and hopefully that will rub off on the rest of us too.”