The Blues have landed another major transfer target with former Stockport County and Stalybridge Celtic defender Chris Smalley joining the ranks at Shawbridge.

Clitheroe boss David Lynch beat off competition from a number of other clubs to secure the services of the 30-year-old, who becomes summer signing number nine.

Smalley is another of the new recruits to make the return journey to the Blues after first moving to Shawbridge from Chorley in 2012.

And since then he has put together an impressive career CV, including more than 100 appearances for Stockport following his arrival at Edgeley Park from Kendal Town in 2015.

Smalley – who has also played for Northwich Victoria and Salford City prior to joining Stalybridge in October, 2018 – helped the Hatters reach the Conference North play-offs in 2017/18.

And Lynch is delighted to be adding more of that kind of class to a squad now showing vast experience of higher-level football following Smalley's appearances in the BetVictor top-flight last season for Celtic, where he was named player's player-of-the-year in 2018/19.

“Securing Chris’s services for next season is testament to the hard work of our recruitment process,” said the Blues’ player-manager, who is delighted with the transfer business he has been able to do since taking charge last month.

“Chris was another of our top targets and it proves the club is moving in the right direction for a player of Chris’s experience to join us.

“Chris is not only a top defender but great technically, as well, and I can’t wait to start working with him.”

Smalley, an imposing figure capable of playing out from the back, will offer Lynch a variety of defensive options following the arrivals of Billy Priestley and Cole Lonsdale to bolster Clitheroe’s rearguard ranks.

And director of football, Carl Garner, believes his signing represents another major coup for the upward-looking Blues.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to capture Chris’s signature ahead of much competition and bring him back to Shawbridge after his success at higher levels,” said Garner, who previously managed Smalley in his first spell with the Blues.

“He’s got the rare ability to play anywhere along the back line and is a strong boy who will add massively to our defensive options.”