Striker Lee Phillips has joined Cambridge United on a deal for the rest of the season.
The 28-year-old striker was one of many players to leave troubled Weymouth last week under freedom of contract, and he signed this afternoon in time to go straight into the squad for this evening's match at Histon.
"I've always said we're on the look out for quality players, and he's a proven goalscorer at this level who we've been monitoring all season," confirmed Gary Brabin.
"He's hard-working, he creates goals as well as scoring them, and he will give the squad a big boost for the run-in to the end of the season."
Phillips' arrival is well-timed, as striker Mark Beesley has been struggling for some weeks with a hip-related problem and the decision has been made for him to have an operation, which could rule him out for the rest of the season.
Cornwall-born Phillips represented England in rugby union at under-15 and under-21 level before concentrating solely on football. Having joined Plymouth as a youth player, he became the youngest player to appear for the Argyle first team aged just 15 years old and went on to make 50 league appearances, including 18 starts, scoring one goal.
Phillips then had spells at Weymouth (2001-2005) and Exeter (2005-2007) before joining Torquay in the summer of 2007. Forming an impressive strike partnership with Tim Sills, he scored 12 times for the Gulls in the 2007/08 season, with numerous assists, proving to be an influential and creative front man.
He was then snapped up by big spenders Rushden & Diamonds for an undisclosed fee at the start of this season, scoring his first goal on his second appearance, but was transfer-listed along with several team-mates in October. After thirteen appearances and two goals for the Diamonds, he left to re-join former club Weymouth in the January transfer window.
He made five appearances, scoring once, but with the Terras in financial difficulties and wages and medical insurance unpaid, he became a free agent and left along with the majority of first team players a week ago.
Lee has been allocated squad number 27.
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