Witham Town have completed the permanent signing of prolific midfielder Mitchell Springett from Dagenham & Redbridge after he had been at Spa Road on loan for the last month.

Springett is a major signing for Witham manager George Young, who has also signed Wayne Vaughan on loan from Tottenham Hotspur Reserves, as he bids to strengthen his squad in an effort to escape the Ryman League Division Two relegation area.

The Colchester-based 34-year-old was one of the mainstays of Heybridge Swifts' suc cesses under the then manager Gary Hill.

During the close season Hill tried to lure him to Clarence Park, along with other ex-Swifts players, as he set about re-building St Albans City as potential Ryman League Premier Division champions.

But having played for Swifts for five years, he suddenly received a call from long serving Dagenham & Redbridge manager Ted Hardy.

He was promptly signed on a two-year contract at the Victoria Road ground and looked set for a new lease of life.

But after a couple of months it all went sour for the diminutive midfielder and he had not played a first team match there since the end of October.

He played a dozen first team games and was only on the losing side once but soon found himself out of favour with the manager.

There were talks of a possible move to Enfield and even two of his old clubs - Swifts and Wivenhoe - tried to sign him initially on loan, but this was rejected by his manager.

He was finally allowed to go to Witham on loan and promptly scored twice in his first game.

A permanent move now suits Springett and Young is now looking to the experienced player to be in charge of Witham's midfield and also score the goals that are needed to see the club emerge after a long period in the doldrums.

There are still initial problems for Young who will want Town to urgently get some Ryman League games played so that three other players, Justin Pearce, Tony Constantinou, and Grant Wedock can complete their suspensions.

Sixth from bottom, the Town will be looking for three points against Tooting & Mitcham on Saturday which could lift them up four places.

Mitchell Springett, who has signed on a permanent basis for Witham Town from Redbridge and Dagenham.

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