New Orient signing Gary Sawyer

Defender pens a two-year contract

Orient manager Russell Slade is delighted with his first signing of the summer and believes that Gary Sawyer will solve the problematic left-back position.

Slade has signed the 26-year-old defender from Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal and admitted: “We needed a left-back and so I’m pleased to get things sorted out.

“Gary could also go to centre-half in an emergency - but he’s mainly a left-back. He’s a wholehearted player and is steady. He is similar to Tony Craig - he’s that sort of player.

“He’s played 100 games for Plymouth in the Championship and he has been on the radar for a while.

“He only played 27 games last season - but that was because he had a double hernia operation at the start of the season, which kept him out. He is the sort of player that will play 35 to 40 games a season. He’s six-foot tall, left-footed and will do a job for us.”

Slade insists that he still has three more main targets - but admits it’s a case of juggling resources.

“With the capping coming in we are restricted financially and it will affect everyone if clubs follow the letter of the law,” he said,

“We’re trying to do things properly and it’s a difficult juggling act - but we needed to get a left-back in and that’s why we have bagged that up first.”