Port Vale boss Neil Aspin believes snapping up his number one goalkeeping target Scott Brown will solve a problem position for the club.
The Valiants haven't had an established number one since Jak Alnwick was sold to Glasgow Rangers in January 2017, but Aspin has fought off competition to land 33-year-old Brown on a two-year deal following his release from Wycombe.
Brown played all of Wycombe's league games to help them to automatic promotion this past season. But the keeper, from Wolverhampton, informed Chairboys manager Gareth Ainsworth that he was looking to move closer to home.
Aspin is delighted to bring in a keeper who has more than 400 games on his CV having also played for Aberdeen and Cheltenham.
He said: "I am really pleased that we have been able to get him in. We had to do it quickly because there were other clubs interested, but the fact that he is from Wolverhampton was in our favour. I am really pleased we have signed him."
The Vale boss explained why Brown was his first-choice target, adding: "He was because of the games he has played. By nature of the position you only have one goalkeeper - although we used seven! - but invariably there are a lot of keepers about who have not played a lot of football.
"But Scott has been used to playing and that is important."
The manager says having an experienced keeper will also help a youthful defence. Brown will compete with Sam Hornby for the number one spot after Aspin released Joe Slinn and Ryan Boot and transfer-listed Rob Lainton.
The manager added: "We have a young right back, a young centre back as well and we have a left back at the moment who is still learning the game.
"So, I think it is important we got a goalkeeper who has played games and who is experienced.
"There wasn't a lot of clarity with the goalkeeping situation last year. At the first chance we have got, we have changed that. Now it is up to Scott to prove he is the number one keeper, and we have Sam who will challenge him for that spot."
