Gray moves to sign up Old (From This is Hampshire)

Town snap up New Zealand international - but youngster heads to Torquay

9:38am Monday 13th February 2012 in Hampshire Sport By John Boyman

BASINGSTOKE Town may have lost England under-19 defender Angus MacDonald – but manager Frank Gray has moved quickly to replace him, bringing in a full international.

New Zealand international Steven Old, who turns 26 on Friday, has been training with the club for a couple of months and has now signed on non-contract terms.

Town are still waiting for international clearance as Old’s last club was Scottish outfit Kilmarnock but if that comes through in time the defender, who has been capped 17 times by the All Whites, could line up against Salisbury City tomorrow night.

Basingstoke boss Gray said: “Steven is a very good player. We did not think we had much chance of signing him because he has been trialling higher up but he picked up a knock, which set him back.

“He’s fully fit now and looking to get some games, so we have signed him on a non-contract basis and he could well be involved against Salisbury.”

Old represented New Zealand at the 2008 Olympics, where he played alongside former Town striker Greg Draper, and was in the All Whites’ squad for the 2009 Confederations Cup. He played for a number of clubs in Australia and New Zealand before spending two years at Kilmarnock, making 10 appearances in the Scottish Premier League.

His signing comes at a good time for Basingstoke, who are nursing Ross Adams back to fitness and lost on-loan Reading man MacDonald last week. MacDonald has joined League Two Torquay on loan until the end of the season and was on the bench for their 1-0 win over Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Gray said: “We always knew there was a possibility that Angus would go and play at a higher level. From his time here we knew he was capable of that and we wish him all the best.

“Losing Angus is still a blow but having Steven means it might not be as big an issue as it could have been. The timing is great for us because it gives us an extra option at centre back and means we do not have to rush Ross Adams back.”

Town were left twiddling their thumbs on Saturday as their trip to Havant and Waterlooville was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

They have not played in more than two weeks but training has been going ahead as usual and Gray thinks his side could benefit from their enforced mid-season break.

“Having a little break like this could do us a favour,” he said. “We might just get a little bit of freshness back.”

The first of those midweek games comes tomorrow night, when Salisbury City will be the visitors to The Camrose (kick-off 7.45pm).

“The lads are keen to get back into action and it’s a massive week for us, with a big game at Sutton as well,” Gray added. “We will be looking to start it in the right way against Salisbury.”

Town need to put a run together as they look to make a late season charge on the Blue Square Bet South play-offs but Salisbury are unbeaten in five league games and drew 2-2 at Truro in the only match to beat the freeze on Saturday.

The hosts will be without suspended duo Wes Daly and David Pratt but could be boosted by the return of striker Tim Sills after a knee injury.

“Losing the game on Saturday gave Tim an extra bit of time,” Gray said. “It would have been touch and go on Saturday because he was not entirely comfortable but we are hoping he will be fit to play on Tuesday.”