Barnet sign Gary Breen

Barnet have signed experienced centre back, Gary Breen as player coach. Breen, who is 34, has been capped 63 times by the Republic Of Ireland and played in the 2002 World Cup scoring in their first game. He has previously played for Charlton Athletic, Maidstone, Gillingham, Peterborough, Birmingham, Coventry, West Ham, Sunderland and Wolves. Both Birmingham and Coventry paid £250,000 for him.

This signing would appear to be a major coup for manager, Paul Fairclough and could be just the player to sort out the club's current defensive problems. Barnet now have four centre backs competing for two places. On loan, Michael Townsend has just signed for another month from Cheltenham Town and Breen's signing must make it doubtful that Ismail Yakubu will make a quick return to the side after being dropped for the match at Port Vale. The centre back pairing of Townsend and Jeremy de Magalhaes helped the Bees to only their second clean sheet of the season.

Meanwhile, winger Kieron St. Amie has joined Stevenage Borough on loan and made his debut as a substitute in Borough's 2-1 home defeat to Wrexham replacing ex-Bee, Anthony Thomas.