New signings tick boxes for Gulls’ boss Gary Johnson
Fraser Kerr playing for Gateshead. Photo: Claire Epton/PPAUK - Credit: Claire Epton/PPAUK
Manager Gary Johnson vowed to add more experience to his Torquay United squad and the signings of veteran duo Danny Wright and Gary Warren, both 35, plus centre-back Fraser Kerr, tick that box.
Yeovil Town's Lee Collins with Solihull Moors player Danny Wright. Photo: Steve Bond/PPAUK - Credit: Steve Bond/Pinnacle
Gulls fans saw during a short loan from Exeter City last season that Warren, with almost 400 games already under his belt (Newport, Inverness Caledonian Thistle (6yrs), Yeovil, Exeter) is no back number.
Centre-forward Wright had several battles with United during his early days with Histon, and he scored 22 goals for the Cheltenham Town side which won the National League title under Johnson in 2016.
He has since led Solihull Moors' attack and Johnson insists: 'I wouldn't sign a 35-year-old has-been - you're talking about a player with the body and mind of a 28/29-year-old.'
At 6ft 3ins, ex-Birmingham starlet Kerr comes to Plainmoor after 239 games for Motherwell, Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir, Gateshead and Hartlepool.
Gary Warren on loan to Torquay United in February. Photo: Steve Bond/PPAUK - Credit: Steve Bond/Pinnacle
'He played many games in the SPL, he is a good athlete with good pace and I am very excited that we have got two very experienced players who will help us to cut out some of the goals we were letting in last season,' said Johnson.
He has also lined up 22-year-old ex-Sunderland striker Andrew Nelson from Dundee, where they have waived the third year of his contract because of financial cutbacks.
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After loan spells with Hartlepool, Harrogate, Falkirk and Darlington, Teesside-born Nelson has won admirers at Dundee in both the SPL and Championship.
Johnson said: 'Andrew is a clever pest - there was a lot of interest in him, he's got all the potential in the world and I see him and Danny Wright as a very potent strike-force who the fans will identify with.'
