Rushden & Diamonds FC have signed defensive players Sagi Burton and Gareth Jelleyman until the end of the 2008-09 season, subject to medicals which will be carried out on Monday 21^st July.

Both players have impressed during the Rushden & Diamonds pre-season training camp in Portugal, including games against local side Portimonense SC and Coca-Cola Championship side Bristol City.

Thirty year old defender Sagi Burton was released by Barnet at the end of the 2007-08 season, after one season at the club in which he appeared in 32 games. He joined the Bees from Shrewsbury Town where he had played in the previous two seasons, following his transfer from Peterborough United, where he made over 100 appearances. Amongst several other clubs he appeared for Port Vale for over two seasons, after starting his career in the Premiership with Crystal Palace.

Twenty-seven year old Gareth Jelleyman played at Mansfield Town in the 2007-08 season, at the end of which he was out of contract., making 140 appearances for the Stags in two and a half seasons. Prior to that he had been at Peterborough United for six seasons after joining the club as a trainee.

Both players have faced the Diamonds earlier in their career - and indeed both played for Peterborough United in the same game against the Diamonds at the end of 2003, alongside Curtis Woodhouse, as detailed here.

We would like to extend a very warm Diamonds welcome to Nene Park to both players.

Additionally the club has released two players, Lawrence Lambley and Ben Nunn. Rushden & Diamonds FC would also like to thank both players for their efforts, and wish them well for the future.

For details of the forthcoming pre-season fixtures and a chance to see the new signings in action, see here.

For details of the forthcoming Blue Square Premier fixtures see here, or for a desktop fixture list see here.