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Feed the Goat and he will... deliver a proven number nine? Shaun Goater's mantle as a successful Bermudian international striker at Ashton Gate has now been passed on to exciting new Bristol City striker Nahki Wells.

Goater played a key role in the switch having spoken to Wells when the former QPR striker was deciding his future during the recent January transfer window, with a good word put in for the West Country side.

City fans may wish to thank Goater for his role in the deal in future, if Wells now scores the goals to help City grab a place in the top six this season.

Bristol Live caught up with the cult striker ahead of Wells possibly making his home debut at Ashton Gate on Friday night under the Sky Sports TV cameras.

Goater hopes to see the forward follow in his footsteps over the next seasons at Ashton Gate, though the recent signing will have to go some to beat the 40 goals netted in 75 games between 1996-98 that the recent Macclesfield Town U18s coach and now media pundit and schools speaker smashed in during his own time in BS3.

"Nahki knows the Championship inside out," said Goater to Bristol Live of a player that he even came up against himself when he was back coaching in Bermuda several years ago.

"When you know the league, the teams, the opposition defenders, and he's now experienced at that level doing it, and that's why he's been able to consistently score goals.

"One, because of his ability and two, because of the level, along with his intelligence.

"We had a chat and I spoke to him. He asked me about Bristol in his consideration and everything. And I said you couldn't find a better place to go and continue your journey as a professional footballer.

"The fans are welcoming, they love when you play well and they're a patient crowd - but more importantly from his point of view - they play football.

"It's always been a good footballing club, from my time there at Bristol City, and I know that that will benefit him as well.

"We had a little personal joke with him that Bristol City is very similar to our football clubs in Bermuda.

"Probably my boyhood club and Nahki's boyhood club [Dandy Town Hornets] play a similar style of football so I cracked a joke that Bristol City are like my hometown team and his home town team combined with the way they play, which will definitely suit him.

"But off the field as well, he'll really enjoy Bristol. I'm still in touch with some friends down in Bristol myself and it was a lovely time and I just encouraged Nahki that it would be a great move for him," explained Goater, who has stayed in touch with Wells after offering advice on a very first move to English football back in 2010.

Goater, who eventually moved on from the South West to Manchester City in 1998 for a fee of £400,000, was recently quoted as saying that Bristol City is the ideal club for a Bermudian forward.

(Image: Rogan/JMP)

Why so? The former international, who netted 36 goals for his country in 32 games and remains the national top scorer, is a great ambassador for the Robins. The move from Rotherham United to City for a fee of £175,000 back in 1996 under Joe Jordan played a role.

"For a couple of reasons. It probably doesn't make too much of a difference when you've been over here for a while but Bristol is a little bit warmer than up north - and that one or two degrees makes a real difference for us Bermudians as we're not so used to the cold," he said.

"For Bermudians, I remember back when I joined the club. There were seagulls flying over the ground and it was a nice warm day. My first thought was this is like being back home in Bermuda!

"There are similarities, the culture and the philosophy of the football. That suits Bermudians and the way we see the game.

"We love a footballing team - Bermudians don't like the old-fashioned game too much, back to front. We love a team that can play out from the back.

"And even in my time we always tried to play football in Bristol. I said to Nahki that it will suit him and I made the reference that over the years Bristol City have had even short strikers but they have produced because they're a footballing club and they have played to the player's strengths," he explained.

Wells got the final 27 minutes against QPR on Saturday as City triumphed 0-1 against the new man's former club.

As for Goater, he reflected on an enjoyable two years for City before he went on to score more than 80 times and enjoy cult status at now English footballing giants Manchester City. That time is warmly recalled this way to the point that there has even been a 'Feed the Goat' Jamaican food outlet referencing him in the South Stand last season.

"My time at Bristol City I remember fondly - I always remember thinking I'm leaving a wonderful part of the country, I'm leaving fans who adore me and fans I adore and that I wanted to give back to them what they were giving to me. Positive energy, goals and performances.

"When I look back it was a great time," he recalls, adding that he hopes to take in a home game soon to watch compatriot Wells play himself.

(Image: Rogan/JMP)

"I got on well with the Chairman - I didn't have a lot of conversation's with Scott Davidson. Now and again just the odd conversation.

"When I joined he told me that he went around five supporters of the club and asked them which striker they would go for, if it was someone around City's level. And he said that all five of the fans said my name.

"It was a great selling point! We just hit the ground running and it was a match made in heaven. I found him a very approachable chairman.

"That was also also the same with [manager] John Ward - and Joe Royle [a former Bristol City player, of course, and Goater's next boss at the Citizens].

"I look back on my time at City fondly and it really pushed me onto another level," he adds, including remembering the final game of his professional career in the UK: Southend United against Bristol City - with some Manchester City fans watching on for good measure due to Goater's legendary status with the Sky Blues.

"When I was walking off I was welling up - I was emotional and appreciative that it was against Bristol City as well," he adds with a laugh.