Heybridge Swifts have swooped to sign highly-rated central defender Gary Waters from Canvey Island.

But Swifts manager Robbie Nihill has released assistant manager Tony English and midfielder Mitchell Springett, who has joined Clacton Town.

Waters signed for Canvey at the beginning of the season but rose to fame playing for Billericay Town, where he spent four highly successful years.

Now 24, he is a former West Ham United professional and is regarded as one of the best defenders in the Essex non-league game.

Nihill will be hoping he helps to shore up a leaking Swifts defence which has conceded 20 goals in ten games this season.

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