DEFENDER Aaron Morris says he would love to win a permanent deal with Exeter City — despite spending this week on trial with Brighton & Hove Albion.

The free agent, who was released by Cardiff City at the end of last term, spent the first three weeks of pre-season training with the Grecians and was given a game in the 2-1 friendly defeat at Weston-super-Mare last week.

Morris, who can play at right-back, centre-half or in midfield, has now left City to take up the offer of a week's trial with npower League One rivals Brighton.

But the 20-year-old says Exeter remains his first-choice destination, so he is pleased the Grecians have asked him to stay in touch during his spell on the South coast.

Morris said: "I think Exeter would be a great place for me because they play good football and I think it would be a good move. After I was released they were the first club I called to see if I could get involved.

"I'm just floating around and keeping my options open at the moment. I'm in Brighton this week.

"But my preferred option is definitely Exeter. I enjoyed the atmosphere there, training under Paul Tisdale was great and (development coach) Andy (Tillson) has looked after me well. The club's just got a nice vibe."

Morris says he caught Tisdale's eye when City took on Cardiff in a friendly last season. At that time the Bluebirds were reluctant to let any players go because they only had a small squad and were gunning for promotion.

But now the Welsh Under-21 international says he believes it is City's large squad which is hindering his chances of joining the club permanently.

Morris said: "At the moment Exeter have got such a big squad that it is hard for me to get involved with regards to signing for them.

"They have got 30-odd players in the first team squad so I am going to see what happens at the start of the season — I will have to see if people go out on loan and I think maybe if that happens then they might get me in. That would definitely be good news for me.

"Brighton asked me to go up there at the end of the season but I couldn't go because Cardiff were in the play-offs, and they asked me to go up again last week but I wanted to see what was happening with Exeter first.

"Exeter have asked me to keep in touch and keep the coaching staff informed with what's happening at my end, so we will see."