Chester FC have announced the signing of ex-Grimsby Town striker Ross Hannah on a 12-month deal.
Hannah left the Mariners last month after two-and-a-half years and the Blues have beaten off competition from Vanarama National League rivals to land the 29-year-old.
He becomes the second capture this week for the Blues following the arrival of midfielder Tom Shaw on Tuesday.
And The Chronicle understands experienced centre-back Ian Sharps will make it a hat-trick of signings in the next 48 hours.
Sheffield-born Hannah had a frustrating 2014-15 campaign, but departed Blundell Park with a record of 28 league goals from 53 starts.
Chester boss Steve Burr has revealed he tried to sign the forward on loan last season and is delighted to have secured his man.
"It's a great signing for the football club, and Ross is proven this level," he told the club's website.
"I tried to bring him in on loan last season and I'm glad we've got him here now."
What can Blues fans expect?
The consensus from his former clubs seems to be that if Hannah is given a chance, he will take it more often that not.
He's described as a 'poacher' and a 'natural finisher' so scoring goals is what he's about.
Hannah's not a targetman, he's not a lightning off-the-shoulder sort or someone who will drop off the front to link up with the midfield.
But what he does possess is a knack of being in the right place when it matters, getting on the end of crosses and sniffing out goals.
Without putting too much pressure on him, he's comparable to another ex-Grimsby forward, Daryl Clare: an out-and-out striker who might not have the most rounded game but who knows where the back of the net is.
He had a remarkable scoring record for Matlock Town, albeit at a lower level, and an impressive goals-to-starts ratio for Grimsby.
Liam Wood, who covers the Mariners for the Grimsby Telegraph, believes tactics rather than ability were the reason Hannah spent so much time on the bench last term.
He said: "I think a lot of it was to do with styles. Ross is more of a poacher-type striker and last year Grimsby normally played with a bigger man up top and worked off that.
"That's not his game so he was a little bit of a victim of formation and when Grimsby did change to two up front, they wanted someone to drop off and link the play with the midfield, which again is now what he's about.
"Ross was the most natural finisher at the club and he worked hard for the team, but what let him down was maybe a lack of physicality so he'll probably need to be partnered with someone bigger to do that side of the game.
"Supporters like goalscorers and when he was in the team that's what he normally did. He had a good relationship with the fans and there were some that wanted him to be playing more often, but those that watched the team closely probably understood why he wasn't starting."
Career history
Hannah spent time with boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday and rivals Sheffield United as a youngster before dropping into non-league.
He had spells at clubs including Worksop Town, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Gainsborough Trinity and Belper Town before settling at Matlock Town.
Hannah bagged an astonishing 111 goals in three years with the Gladiators, finishing as the club's leading scorer and player of the year in each of his three seasons.
His record-breaking 52 goals in 2010-11 brought Football League scouts flocking, and Bradford City fought off a host to clubs to sign the then 24-year-old.
Hannah netted three times in 26 games during his first season at Valley Parade and scored seven goals in an 11-game loan spell with FC Halifax Town.
His contract with the Bantams was extended for a further 12 months but he soon found his first-team opportunities limited.
Hannah was loaned to Grimsby Town in September 2012 and scored nine goals in 14 games, making the switch permanent in January 2013.
He netted just once more that season as the goals dried up and the campaign ended in disappointment with the Mariners losing to Wrexham in the FA Trophy final.
Hannah rediscovered his scoring touch in 2013-14, netting 13 league goals in 23 starts as Grimsby reached the play-offs, going down to Gateshead in the semi-finals.
He missed the first five games of last season with an injured calf and struggled for a regular spot in the side, finishing with five goals in 25 games, although 18 of those came off the bench. He was an unused substitute for the play-off final defeat to Bristol Rovers.
Mariners boss Paul Hurst elected not to offer him a new deal when his contract expired at the end of the season.
