Jim swoops for hat-trick of signings
AFTER calling for ‘change’ in his playing squad amidst the side’s losing run last month, County boss Jim Gannon moved to implement that change late last week bolstering his ranks with a triple signing.
First came the double signing of Salford City pair Tom Walker and Devante Rodney prior to Wednesday’s battling 2-1 win over Hartlepool United at Edgeley Park, before Gannon added left-back Tyler Garratt on what the club described as a “short-term deal” until the end of the calendar year.
Left-sided attacker Walker and striker Rodney both link up with The Hatters on three month loan spells until January - with Walker returning for a second spell at Edgeley Park after a brief non-contract stint in 2017.
Rodney, whom Gannon describes as a “powerful striker”, most recently enjoying a loan period at Halifax Town in the National League, where he scored an impressive seven goals in twelve outings.
Garratt signed late in the week after training with the Hatters first team over the last few weeks.
The natural left-back started out at Bolton Wanderers alongside Tom Walker and former County favourite Jimmy Ball, with Garratt making his first team debut for The Trotters in 2016.
Moves to Doncaster Rovers and Wimbledon followed for Garratt, before injury struck and left the 22 year-old without a club before Gannon swooped.
“Tyler has had a difficult start to this season after suffering a shoulder injury whilst at a Football League club, but he is now back to full fitness and has impressed all of the staff over the past week here,” enthused the Hatters boss.
“He’s the right age, playing experience and profile for the type of players that will move us forward. He has a solid base of League and National experience and we feel that he will quickly work his way towards the starting team”
“As a natural left back, he will be a welcome and very good addition to the squad, and we’re delighted to have him join us and look forward to working with him.
“We’ve had our eye on Devante for some time, and I’m really pleased to add him to the squad, as he has an eye for goal and offers a different option to our existing front men.”
“We have also been monitoring Tom Walker very closely, because we always felt he had the capacity to mature into a very good player, and that’s exactly what has happened. He will immediately give us more options across the attacking midfield positions.”
Whilst Walker made a match-winning debut in Wednesday’s hard-fought win over Hartlepool, Rodney was omitted altogether as he returns to full fitness - and Gannon admitted that he won’t be rushing any of his new boys into a County side which has bounced back to winning ways.
“I need to be careful because I was unfair on Joe Leesley and Adam Hammil, putting them both straight into the side when they signed.”
“It’ll be a massive boost when Devante is available, it’s more fresh legs for us, and some pace and power up top - and I’m confident now that we’ll be heading into the York game looking sharp and in good numbers.”