CHESTER FC have strengthened their squad for the title run-in by signing former Wrexham and Swansea City star Lee Trundle.
The veteran striker, 36, indicated his desire to join the Blue Square Bet North leaders after agreeing to terminate his contract with League One’s Preston North End earlier this month.
Chester boss Young had no hesitation in offering Trundle – scorer of more than 100 Football League goals and once the subject of a £1m transfer to Bristol City – a non-contract deal for the rest of the season.
“We tried to sign Lee in the summer but there were League clubs in for him and he eventually went to Preston,” said Young, whose move for Trundle has been made possible by Michael Powell’s departure to Witton Albion.
“He picked up a bad injury in his second game but he is now clear of that and he has been training full-time at Preston.
“Lee contacted me to see if we were still interested. We were, as when a player of his experience and ability comes along with 10 weeks of the season to go you have to be.
“Lee coming here is not about money – it’s about football. We’ve got him on what effectively we had left to pay for Michael Powell so it’s been done within the current budget.
“It’s been a challenge to get players in while at the same time our rivals have been strengthening.
“So I think we’ve managed to pull off a bit of a coup to get Lee in and I’m sure he can have a big part to play.
“We were looking to add quality to what we’ve got and when Lee became available and said he wanted to come, and was prepared to come on what basically we’ve got left, it was an absolute no brainer.”
Trundle, renowned for his technical ability, started his career in non-league football, playing for the likes of Chorley, Stalybridge Celtic and Southport, before a goal-laden spell at Rhyl led to him to joining Wrexham in 2001.
A move to Swansea followed in 2003 and he went on to enjoy great success with the now Premier League club.
Trundle scored 78 goals in 146 appearances for the Swans, a return which earned him a big money move to Bristol City in 2007 and regular appearances on the ‘Showboat’ section of Sky’s long-running Saturday morning football programme, Soccer AM.
Trundle’s time at Ashton Gate was not as prolific and he was sent out on loan to Leeds United and Swansea before he was released in 2010.
The Liverpudlian spent two seasons in the Welsh Premier League, netting 26 times in 59 games for Neath, before returning to the Football League with Preston in the summer.
Trundle suffered knee ligament damage in a pre-season friendly and made just two substitute appearances for the Deepdale outfit.
Young said: “Lee is fit and ready and just wants to start playing now.
“He’s been training full-time and has only been out of the full-time game for 10 days.”
There is a chance Trundle could be included in the Chester squad for Tuesday's league match at Workington (7.45pm).
