Opening day opponents Southend have eased their striker problems by signing Liam Dickinson on a one year deal.
The Shrimpers faced opening the season with just one recognised striker fit, but will now pair veteran Neil Harris with the former Stockport County man. After bagging 21 goals in the 07/08 campaign, Dickinson's career has gone downhill almost as fast as it went up.
He cost Stockport just £2,000 in 2005 and left the Hatters for Derby for £750,000 three years later. He has followed it up, without playing for the Rams, with six-figure moves to first Brighton and then Barnsley in each following summer and was released in May after just four games for the Tykes, failing to score in any of the 21 games he played last term.
Also signing for the Shrimpers is defender Ryan Leonard and midfielder JP Kalala. Teenager Leonard was released by Plymouth earlier in the summer after just one substitute appearance for the first team. Kalala, 29, has played 160 games for four different English clubs since starting his career with French side Nice.
Meanwhile, former Bulls loanee James Walker has signed for Dover Athletic. The former Charlton and Southend man is on his fourth club since his loan spell at Edgar Street less than two years ago.