Barnsley have confirmed the signing of midfielder Liam Lawrence on a short-term contract until the end of the season.
The former Sunderland, Stoke, Portsmouth and Cardiff midfielder started his career alongside Bobby Hassell at Mansfield in 1999 and has a good record against the Reds, netting a hat trick for Stoke in a 3-3 draw at Oakwell in December 2007 and the winner for Cardiff there in April 2012, which was his only goal of that season.
The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international has been training with The Reds for the past week and has agreed the move after managing to cancel his contract with Greek outfit PAOK Salonika.
Manager Danny Wilson told the club’s official website:
"Some of the players, with all due respect, for the talent they've got need leaders on the pitch",
“He's not match fit. He's had a few training sessions with us. But he's a fit lad and he's experienced and it won't take him long to get up to speed. We'll look at him tomorrow and if he doesn't react to anything we might include him. He can play anywhere. Behind the front two or one or either side of the pitch."
Meanwhile Wilson’s January clearout is set to continue a pace. The Reds boss has already released both Scott Wiseman, who joined Preston, and Chris Dagnall, who today signed for Leyton Orient and now David Perkins, Jim McNulty and Jason Scotland are set to follow suit.
McNulty, 28, spent 14 games on loan at Tranmere between October and December and is yet to feature for Barnsley under Wilson, but both Perkins and Scotland have been integral parts. Perkins has started four of Wilson’s five matches in charge and Scotland has also appeared in all but one.