Cian Harries first words as a Bristol Rovers player after signing from Swansea City

The former Coventry City defender joins the Gas on a two and a half year deal and says Ben Garner had a big influence on his move

New Bristol Rovers signing Cian Harries has given his first interview as a Gas player and said his conversation with Ben Garner convinced him to move.

Harries joins the Gas on a two and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee from Swansea City after a loan spell at the start of the season with Fortuna Sittard in the Netherlands.

Ben Garner was excited about the prospect of signing Harries and said in his pre-Coventry press conference said the Welshman was one of the best young defenders on the ball he had seen in his career.

In his first interview, Harries said it was a conversation with Garner which made him realise it was the right move.

He said: "Obviously I know Rovers is a really good football club. I've experienced match days here before, playing and on the bench. I spoke to the manager last night and there's no doubt that this is the right move for me.

"I'm really looking forward to getting started now and looking forward to working with the manager.

"About how he's trying to change the style of play from previous managers, about the type of signings he wants to bring in.

"The main thing is with myself signing here permanent, it's not just the next six months it's the next two and half years so it's how the team can progress, how the manager can progress and hopefully I can play a key role in that progression if all goes well.

"I've played a little bit in League One at Coventry when I broke through there playing with the Saturday/Tuesday playing schedule, so for me to come to back now with Rovers which is a really big club in this league and to prove myself again I think it's the right step for me."

Harries worked with Rovers' goalkeeping coach Adrian Tucker at Swansea, and looks forward to working with him again.

He said: "It always helps. There's always someone normally at a football club that you're really friendly with and Tucks was really good at Swansea last year, even if I wasn't playing so much, just training and bits of advice.

"He's obviously a goalkeeping coach so he also knows what he wants from his central defenders. Tucks took all the set plays, attacking and defending and is also a really good voice away from the training ground on advice and stuff.

"I'm really looking froward to working with him and all the staff that are here."

Harries also addressed his time in the Netherlands and his aims of breaking into the national side.

"The game is a lot different out there to how it is here. It has really helped me, not just with football but living in a different country away from home. as a player and as a human," he said.

"I feel like I've come on a lot for it and it's something I can draw on in the future.

"Something that's only going to help me from playing here is hopefully I can pick up that recognition from the national side. I know Tom Lockyer was here and he's obviously go on to other things now and is doing really well.

"Again another case that Rovers is a club that can help people and is a club that progresses players."