Coventry Sphinx have signed Richard Blythe.
The midifielder, has previously played for Rugby Town, Barwell and Aston Villa and has agreed to sign for Sphinx for the coming season.
Richard won the Southern League in 2011 with Barwell before a number of years at Rugby Town being part of the squad who finished in and around the play off positions and is seen as a key signing to helping Coventry Sphinx push on.
Manager Luke Hopkins said to the Sphinx website: "I have been after Rich since I took over as Manager and I've appreciated the fact he wanted to play as high as possible, but that didn't stop me asking him each year!!
"It has helped that Craig Herbert has worked with Rich before and it has tied in nicely with Mitch Piggon and Robbie Banks coming on board. I know hes turned down some higher placed clubs, offering some attractive packages to come and give us a shot at helping us progress. He has a great pedigree and played in the FA Youth Cup Final versus Chelsea for Aston Villa in 2010"
Assistant Manager Craig Herbert added "Rich is a Cov lad and it makes sense he plays his football in Cov, there are many lads from the City that go elsewhere to play, we are looking to get them playing for us and get this club on the move again. We've had lads agree to join us and move on, which was the case last week, but that's football, its happens at all levels and good luck to them, no burnt bridges here, but we are safe in the knowledge that I know Rich and he's a good lad and has given us his word. That’s good enough for me and the gaffer"