Cheltenham Town are on the verge of completing a deal for free agent Tom Pett, according to Gloucestershire Live.
London-born Pett boasts a vast amount of experience playing in the Football League. Coming through the ranks at non-league side Potters Bar before joining Wealdstone, where he made a name for himself, the versatile midfielder secured a professional move to Stevenage in 2014.
Here he spent four seasons before moving to Lincoln City. 65 appearances later and most notably a League Two title under his belt, the 31-year-old headed back down south to the Hertfordshire side.
This stint was short-lived, and just a season later, Pett transferred to Vale Park where he linked up with current Robins boss Darrell Clarke. The theme of promotion continued as he was part of the squad which achieved play-off success in the 2021/22 campaign.
Upon the expiry of his contract with Port Vale, the ‘holding midfielder’ has found himself without a club. With Dan Adshead and Ellis Chapman deemed surplus to requirements, the new man in charge will certainly rely on his experience and calmness in the middle of the park.
The Robins travel to League Two side AFC Wimbledon on Saturday in the FA Cup 1st Round, where they will be looking for revenge after exiting the competition following a thrilling 4-3 defeat to The Wombles two seasons ago.
Writer’s View
After Cheltenham’s bitterly disappointing recruitment in the summer, it is key that Darrell Clarke can bring in trustworthy players. Tom Pett holds 464 senior appearances to his name and brings a whole host of qualities to a struggling Robins team fighting for survival.
This is a great piece of business, as it adds strength in an area which is lacking in squad depth. This signing also helps the Robins off the pitch as it brings another character to the dressing room which will help the younger players to mature in the demanding environment associated with being a professional footballer.
