Ward delighted with Rowlands signing (From Gazette)

Ward delighted with Rowlands signing

4:11pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Colchester Utd By Jonathan Waldron

Colchester United manager John Ward believes veteran midfielder Martin Rowlands will be a good acquisition for the club.

The U’s have signed the Republic of Ireland international on a four-month deal, with a view to extending it at the end of the season.

Rowlands, 32, will add to the competition for places in Colchester’s midfield.

He is in contention to make his U’s debut when they play host to Sheffield United, on Saturday.

Ward said: “Martin has got a wealth of experience and has played a lot of football around the top level.

“He can play - he knows how to make a tackle and a pass and he can lead as a person and a player, which is also important.

“He was released by Queens Park Rangers at the beginning of the week and we moved pretty quickly to get him here.

“He was really happy to get here and get his football going again.

“I’ve tried to make the squad better and we’ve got a bit more seniority, with Martin coming in.

“I have to make sure that we have got enough people to deal with the games that we’ve got coming up.

“I saw him play in a behind-closed-doors game two weeks ago and his fitness is fine.

“He’s been playing and training; he’s just not figured around Queens Park Rangers, where there’s been a lot of changes.

“I think he’s a good signing and having spoken to him, he sees his ambitions going beyond the end of this season here.

“He comes into the same category as Karl Duguid and Kem Izzet in that he’s a good senior pro.

“There’s a purpose in this part of his career and I think that’s very important.

“He had one or two other offers but he’s chosen this one, which is pleasing.

“Mark Hughes did not let him go easily and he had to work to get other players in before he could release someone like him.”

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