City land Gilroy on two-year deal

Elusive Chippenham striker Dave Gilroy ended an almost year-longpursuit by penning a two-year Bath City contract at Twerton Park lastnight.

City manager John Relish first made a move for the former BristolRovers man last June, but bids of pounds4,000 and pounds5,000 wererejected by the Bluebirds who saw their top-scorer as vital to anypromotion push.

But with Town contemplating another year in the BGB PremierDivision and Gilroy a free agent, the 24-year-old front man turneddown improved terms to pen a deal with newly-promoted Blue SquareSouthern side City, despite interest from Twerton tenants TeamBath.

Gilroy has agreed a two-year contract and admitted Bath's recentpromotion was key to his decision.

"Bath did really well last year and they're a club that's showinga lot of ambition. I'm also an ambitious person so it seemed theright move to make," he said.

"Adie (Britton, assistant manager) sold the club to me because itwas a big decision. I had a chat with Andy Tillson (TeamBath headcoach) and TeamBath made me an offer, but at this stage of my careerI want to be playing at the highest level possible.

"I had a chat with Adie (Mings, Chippenham boss) to explain myreasons and he wished me all the best."

Britton admitted it was a relief to finally get their man.

"He was interested in our club from the outset and me and Johnhave been interested in him since we were at Merthyr and he was atBristol Rovers," said Britton.

"We wanted to get him on loan, then he went to Weston (super-Mare) and when he left there we came in with an offer, but he went toChippenham.

"Dave is a player who will improve. He can play at least one levelhigher and of the strikers we've got we believe he will complimentthem all.

"He's a quiet lad. He's intelligent, he thinks about his footballand wants to improve.

"We're delighted to get him on a free because we were prepared topay money for him," he added.