ENTHUSIASTIC ex-Barnet striker John O'Flynn says Exeter City's burgeoning reputation persuaded him to move to St James's Park.

The Irishman was unveiled as the Grecians' fifth summer signing yesterday after choosing the Devon club over a posse of other interested rivals.

O'Flynn had spent the majority of pre-season with Championship outfit Bristol City on trial after leaving Barnet as a free agent when his contract expired in June.

But the Robins decided not to offer the 28-year-old a deal following their pre-season tour of Sweden, despite him featuring in three of their games and netting once.

Having spoken to Grecians boss Paul Tisdale earlier in the summer, O'Flynn was quick to reopen talks with the Exeter manager before tying up a deal yesterday.

And he insists that, once he had time to mull over the options — Leyton Orient, Lincoln and Gillingham showed firm interest while others were monitoring the situation — his decision was easy and made with real vigour.

"I wanted to make sure I'd made the right move — the right footballing decision — and I think I've made that here," said O'Flynn, who spoke of his determination to make an impact with City.

"I took my time and Paul (Tisdale) waited for my decision. Everyone I've spoken to, football-wise and ex-players, said it's a good club to push on and accelerate your career, so that's what I'm hoping to do here.

"The manager had contacted me earlier in the summer so we'd been in contact initially. But it's been pretty slow because I wanted to make the right decision.

"There were a few other clubs interested, so I wanted to see all my options and pick the best choice and I think I've done that now.

"The ball's been in my court, being a free agent, so that's why it's taken so long, but I'm here now and I want to do the best I can for Exeter City."

O'Flynn has garnered an impressive scoring record in his eight-year career. He netted 68 goals in 138 appearances for League of Ireland side Cork City, before finding the net 29 times in 63 starts for Barnet over the last season-and-a-half.

His form in League Two for the Bees saw Shrewsbury slap in a £100,000 offer for the forward in January, but O'Flynn chose to see out his contract at Underhill instead.

Now he believes he is ready to make a success of himself at a higher level.

"I've never played in League One before so I'm hoping to make the step up fairly easily and do my best — it is something I am really looking forward to," he said.

"It's a time of my career where I feel I can step up and score some goals. Hopefully I can get on that bandwagon.

"I'm a bit of a sniffer really. I try and play on the shoulder of the last man and try to take any chance I get.

"That way I hope I can get as many goals as I can. I don't really set targets. I think once I'm playing and I get to a consistent level then the goals will come.

"I'm eager to start playing for Exeter and prove myself. I want to improve as a player and that was definitely a big reason why I came here."