Josh Vela completes Warrington Town move

Warrington Town have signed midfielder Josh Vela ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie at home to Bamber Bridge.

Vela, 31, played for Carlisle United in the Football League last season, making 30 appearances before departing in the summer.

He played in the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers in 2011/12, going on to play more than 150 times for them across the Championship and League One, and is a former team-mate of Yellows assistant Craig Noone.

After that, he moved on to the Scottish Premiership with Hibernian, and has also played in the Football League for Shrewsbury Town and Fleetwood Town, where he was captain.

He has been a target of Paul Carden throughout the summer to bolster the engine room.

Carden said: “We’ve been in contact with Josh for most of the summer. He played with Nooney at Bolton, and we were told he was looking to go part-time, so Nooney made contact and they’ve been speaking. He’s been in for training and we’re delighted he’s agreed to sign.

“He’s a really big signing. He adds a lot of quality and experience. He’s played in the Premier League, and to have played as many games in the Championship as he has, sometimes in different positions, shows he’s got good game understanding.

"He’s a midfielder that can put a foot in, get on the ball and get forward, he’s just a strong player.

“We obviously need players, but we need quality, and he undoubtedly adds that.”

Photo credit: Richard Parkes