We spoke to our latest arrival, Josh Williams, after he agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with United.
Speaking to CUTV, he started by talking on his most recent spell at Gateshead, saying: “It was very good. I’ve gained a lot of experience, I’ve played a lot of minutes, I hadn’t had that experience in the past. It was going very well.
“Now, I’m ready to get my head down and get as many minutes as I can, get even more experience and see what happens from there.”
The right-sided defender also had a loan spell with Cheltenham prior to his switch to the Heed. Reflecting on that move, he stated: “I'd say it was a difficult time, but I'd say I look at it as a learning curve, and then bringing it into my game now, the stuff that I learnt there, as well as the stuff that I learnt at Gateshead as well.”
Williams joins the Blues following a 14-year stay at Birmingham City, speaking on his time there, he said: “There was many ups and downs, but other than that it's been a very good 14 years there.
"I’ve been there since I was a young boy, all the way to now, and now I've got to move on to the next chapter.”
We asked Josh if there was anyone he’d played with during his time with Birmingham, that really stood out to him, and he had quite the answer, responding: “I'd say Jude [Bellingham], just look at what he's doing now.
“I played with him from Sunday League, all the way through the years, and obviously he's gone to the next step.
“Now I’m on to a new chapter, just ready to get my head down, do my thing, and then hopefully the fans will love me.”
On first learning of interest, and how the transfer came about, Josh said: “I found out when I was at Gateshead, there was an enquiry and I saw that they'd been watching me, and I just kept doing my thing, and now I'm here, so hopefully I can hit the ground running.
“I've had a sit down with the coaches, the staff, seen the project they're trying to do with the club, and I feel like I can help with the project.”
On Rob Clarkson, and his involvement, United's newest addition said: “We’ve had very good conversations to be fair, he's just told me what he wants from me, what the club wants to do, and what the plans are for the future.
“Obviously, the first thing is to stay up, we’re not in the position we want to be in right now, but hopefully at the end of the season we can be saying otherwise.”
After arriving at Brunton Park on Tuesday, Josh took part in his first training session before completing his media duties. Speaking on the session, he said: “I really enjoyed it.
“Doing the stuff we want to be doing on the weekend, just build-up play and stuff like that.
“It's kind of similar to what I've been doing at Gateshead to be honest, so I'm just going to bring what I've brought at Gateshead to here, and see what the team can do, and help the team as much as I can.”
Josh then spoke about teammates, and any familiar faces in the squad, saying:
“Me and Whelo [Callum Whelan] got along really well at Gateshead, we've actually got very close, and obviously he's come to the next step, and now I've come with him, so hopefully we can bring the chemistry that we had at Gateshead to here.”
United travel to Fleetwood Town this weekend with a sold-out away end supporting them, looking ahead to that vital clash, Williams said: “I’m excited, just ready to get on the pitch. If the gaffer wants me to play, then I'll play my best and help the team.
“I'm just excited to get going, hopefully I can help the team as much as I can, score, assist, and hopefully get the fans off their seats.”
Finally, Josh finished with a very clear message to the fans. He simply said: “We're going to be staying up this season.”
