GRAYS Athletic have signed former Southend United midfielder James Stevens.

The 22-year-old joins from Ryman Premier League rivals Witham Town, who Blues beat 4-0 on Saturday and it has now emerged he did not feature in that match after the sides reached an agreement before the game.

Thurrock-born Stevens, who is also a Northern Ireland youth international, took the division by storm in their push to promotion last term, scoring 20 goals and earning the Manager's Player Of The Year award.

Blues manager Jody Brown was delighted that a deal could be reached with Witham.

He said: "James is a player I have admired for a while. He scores goals, has a good range of passing and is a major threat from set-plays."

"The squad is evolving all the time, and we are learning what is needed in this division. With Bentley and Little both suffering with niggles, and an obvious lack of goals from midfield so far this year, I'm pleased to have got James in.

"He knows there is competition for places here, and the fact he is taking on that challenge is pleasing. He's another young player, and will develop in around players like Glen (Little) and Mark (Bentley), and hopefully he will be a long term part of the club's progress."

*Blues have re-called goalkeeper Lamar Johnson from his loan spell at Tilbury and Troy Williams also returns, from a loan spell at Horsham