NATHAN Ferguson has praised Grays Athletic’s management duo for helping him realise his dream after he signed a contract with League One front-runners Burton Albion.

The 20-year-old completed a move to the Pirelli Stadium last Wednesday, having starred in the opening weeks of the season for Blues, helping them to the top of the Ryman Premier League.

Ferguson’s displays soon started attracting attention from professional clubs, but it is Burton who won his signature, as the former Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder penned a two-and-a-half year contract.

But Ferguson said having former players Mark Bentley and Glen Little in charge at Grays helped him immeasurably.

“They were very important influences for me,” said Ferguson, of the former Southend United and Reading duo. “They were also encouraging me and always backed me and never tried to hinder me on the pitch. They wanted me to express myself and I was given the freedom to play.

“I have no idea how Burton became aware of me but I went for a week’s training and enjoyed it. It was intense and the quality was better, and it was more about playing consistently. But I didn’t feel out of place.

“I wanted to do it as soon as I knew an offer was on the table. Getting released last summer was a blow but I was able to show I was worthy of a deal and I jumped at it.

“It is right to make the next step and kick on after I grew so much at Grays.”

It wasn’t always as rosy for Ferguson. Having been released by the Daggers last summer, he linked up with Grays’ Ryman Premier League rivals Billericay Town. However, he failed to tie down a starting spot and left for Grays in February.

His arrival coincided with Grays’ incredible end of season form, which saw them lose just one of their last 14 league games, missing out on the play-offs by a single point.

And Ferguson said, as soon as he could make an impression on the team, his love for the game came flooding back. “I was at Billericay and the manager (Craig Edwards) wanted to play me in a wider position,” he said. “I did for a bit but I injured my hamstring and went to Grays.

“It was difficult to get into the team at first as the boys were playing so well. I was a substitute a lot of the time and that was fine as I knew I would get into the team in the end.

“But this season has been different. A lot of that was down to the fact that I had a pre-season this year whereas I didn’t last year. I was able to hit the ground running and enjoy my football.”

Ferguson was the final player signed by now ex-Burton manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who has since left to join Queen’s Park Rangers, with Nigel Clough taking the reins at the Pirelli Stadium.

But that doesn’t faze Ferguson, who has moved up to Burton and is living with several other Burton players. And he isn’t resting on his laurels.

“Managers leaving is part of football,” he said. “It is nothing to do with me but I just have to work hard and impress whoever is in charge.

“I want to break into the team and start to play some games. The team is playing well so it will be challenging but that doesn’t concern me.

“I want to succeed.”