WINSFORD United have made a shock move in the transfer market by snapping up former Southampton and Leeds United full-back Ray Wallace.

Manager Kevin Tully has taken the 30-year-old on board after his release from Stoke City in the summer, following brief spells at Mansfield Town and Blackpool.

The youngest of the famous Wallace footballing dynasty, Ray's decision to join Winsford will raise a few eyebrows.

Tully feels the signing proves he can attract quality players to Barton Stadium, and says he has more in the pipeline.

"It's good that Winsford can attract someone like that," he said. "I told him the situation here and where the club wants to go and he's accepted that, which is a compliment to the club. We're on the right lines and we want a few more like him.

"When I took over there was a lack of experience in the team and in the last few weeks I've been busy trying to get the right calibre of player here.

"He needs games to get himself fit but he'll be good for the younger players who can learn a bit from him. Some players here were playing Sunday League, but now we have someone who has been at Leeds and Southampton and Anthony Hughes has played for England under-19s.

"There's another two or three players I have on the go and then that will be the end. We'll go from there.

"The people who watch the games see the same as me and know where the deficiencies are, so I'm doing something about it.

"I'm looking to part exchange some players and to have a squad of 16. In the next week, I'll be in a position where I might have a selection headache which is better than playing people out of position. So I think there has been rapid progress made in the last three weeks and we've started to get a better quality player in."

Darren Washington has left Winsford for Congleton Town, last night's opponents in the UniBond League Cup group stage.

Blues face a tough trip to Gateshead in the UniBond Premier on Saturday (3pm), then an away game at Runcorn on Tuesday (7.30pm).

In the FA Umbro Trophy, United have been drawn at home against VS Rugby, of the Dr Martens League, on Saturday, November 27.

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