Buzzing boss Pat Rayment feels he’s added two key ingredients to his dream Spalding United recipe after snapping up David Bell and Jake Newman.
Experienced midfielder Bell, who arrives from Stamford, lists Coventry City, Norwich City, Luton Town, Rushden & Diamonds and Notts County among his former clubs.
He also played for King’s Lynn Town last season and once commanded a fee of around £500,000 when Norwich swooped to sign him from Coventry.
Rayment rates him as the “biggest signing” he’s made at Spalding and feels he’ll be a huge hit at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
Newman, meanwhile, has been setting the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division alight with Wellingborough Town in recent seasons.
He scored 36 times for the Doughboys last season and has already notched 18 times in 11 appearances this time around, making him the UCL’s leading marksman.
Rayment admits his side fended off interest from Evo-Stik League First Division South rivals Belper Town and Coalville Town to get a player he’s dubbed a “goal machine.”
“Obviously people are going to look at this double signing and ask me why we’ve done it,” said the Tulips chief. “I see it was us adding two ingredients that we’ve been missing all season.
“Bell is a player of top, top pedigree. He has to be the biggest player I’ve ever brought here, he’s probably had more than £1million spent on him over his career.
“He’ll add vital experience to a young midfield and is a brilliant ball player, something we’ve been missing since Chris Hall left.
“It’s nice to be able to attract a player of his calibre to the club and shows what kind of strides we are taking.
“Jake is just a goal machine. We’ve been monitoring him for some time – and he just keeps on scoring.
“He’s clearly ready to play at the next level and we hope that he’ll help us do the same.”
Both players are in the squad for tonight’s (Tuesday) game at Daventry Town (7.45pm). Mitch Griffiths also returns from suspension, but Adam Millson is out injured.
