Athletic in safe hands – Penney

Dean Brill checks in with Latics boss Dave Penney.

ATHLETIC’S search for a new keeper is over following the capture of Dean Brill from Luton Town.

Manager Dave Penney believes his side will be in safe hands as the 23-year-old Brill and Greg Fleming fight to be the last line of defence.

Penney is delighted with his capture, pointing out he had been monitoring Brill, who left Luton after becoming a free agent, for the last seven months.

He said: “I had been keeping an eye on a number of players who were becoming available in the summer and Dean was one of them.

“I have been aware of him since Christmas and had him watched two or three times when I was manager at Darlington.”

Brill made his debut for home-town Luton in September 2003 - ironically it was at Boundary Park where the Hatters suffered a 3-0 defeat.

He made 97 first-team appearances for Luton, appearing for them in all three divisions of the Football League and also in last season’s victory in the final of the Johnstone’s Paints Trophy. He also played eight times on loan for Gillingham.

Penney believes Brill will be a hit at Boundary Park, declaring: “Dean was being tipped for the Premier League a couple of years ago.

“His career has stood still a little since then, but I am confident he can kick start things here. He has the quality and the right attitude.

“Dean has played in the Championship, League One and League Two and has a lot of experience, having played over 100 games, yet is still young enough to kick on again.

“He is cool and calm and, at 6ft 2in, a good size for a keeper. He is also a good organiser and kicker.”

Penney anticipates a battle between Brill and Fleming to become first-choice keeper, with first-year pro Josh Ollerenshaw also aiming to make his mark.

Brill becomes Athletic’s seventh summer signing as he joins Rob Purdie, Jon Worthington, Joe Jacobson, Dean Furman, Pawel Abbott and the returning Sean Gregan.

Penney would like to sign a central defender and striker to complete his new-look squad.

o Former Athletic manager Mick Wadsworth is back in football having taken over at Chester City, who lost their Football League status in May.