FORMER Premier League midfielder Jamie O’Hara has become the latest big name to join Billericay Town.

O’Hara has been without a club since leaving League One side Gillingham by mutual consent in September.

But the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man has signed an 18-month deal to join former Gills team mate Paul Konchesky at New Lodge.

And O’Hara said TV personality Mark Wright, who is believed to be in negotiations to take a 20 per cent stake in the club, played a big part in persuading him to join the Ryman Premier League club.

O’Hara, 30, said: “Mark is a really good friend of mine and he called me asking me to come down.

“I spoke to Glenn [Tamplin] and he offered me the chance to join and play a few games before the end of the season and it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

“Glenn has a lot of ambition and really sees this club going places and I wanted to be a part of that.”

O’Hara, who won the League Cup with Spurs in 2008, left Gillingham after tearing a ligament in his foot that left him sidelined for six months.

Now the midfielder is looking to make up for lost time.

“I have had quite a few injuries in my career that have held me back a bit,” added O’Hara.

“Now I am just looking to get back on the football pitch and help the club to hopefully make the play-offs.

“I had a quick chat with Paul [Konchesky] before coming here and he told me about the club and that it is on the up.

“The aim is to make the play-offs this season and we are only three points off that at the moment so I am confident that we can do that.”

O’Hara has enjoyed spells with the likes of Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers and the former England under-21 international is hoping to pass his experience on to his new team mates.

O’Hara insisted: “Hopefully I can help some of the players here.

“I have an 18-month contract here but my aim is still to get back into professional football.

“I am still only 30 and I have a lot to offer.”

While suffering with his long-term foot injury, O’Hara appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.

And the former Fulham midfielder knew that some clubs would be put off by his appearance on the popular television programme.

O’Hara admitted: “I had to be realistic about who was going to come in for me.

“I just want to get on the pitch again.

“If this offer didn’t come I was prepared to go somewhere on trial in the summer.”

Billericay have also completed the signing of Hemel Hempstead Town striker Jake Robinson for a club record fee of £24,000.

Robinson, 30, has scored 23 goals for Hemel Hempstead Town in the National League South this season.

O’Hara and Robinson are set to make their debuts at Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.