Paul Simpson has completed a deal which will see Lewis Neal joining Town on a two year deal.
The left-winger started his career with Stoke City before a move to join Preston North End.He had a spell on loan at Notts County last season and ended with a short term deal until the end of the season at Carlisle United.
Lewis was at the Prostar this lunchtime to complete his medical and Simmo was pleased to have him on board: "I know I keep saying this but, I am really pleased to have been able to get Lewis Neal to come and join us.
"He is a player that I believe is more than capable of playing at a higher level and I hope he can do that with us.
"Lewis was at Preston when I was there and I don't want to get into a situation where it is all ex Preston players but it's just the way things have worked out over the last couple of days.
"He is a good player who has a fantastic left foot, has excellent energy levels with the ability to go past people.He also has the ability to deliver good set-pieces with his left foot from corners and from free-kicks.
"Everyone will look at him as a direct replacement f Ben Davies and they are probably not far off the mark.Lewis is a different player to Ben Davies and I am hoping that he will give us a real balance to the squad down the left hand side."
Last season Ben Davies played in a number of positions in the midfield and Simmo revealed that at times it had been a headache to fit him into the formation: "There were times last year where I had to try and accommodate Ben into the system we were playing.Ben never let us down but it was difficult as it does affect your thinking at times.
"With Lewis it is a different proposition as he is an out and out left sided player who prefers to play as a winger.
"He is capable of playing in the centre of midfield and when he was on loan at Notts County that's where he played but that's not his strongest position or where I think we will benefit from him playing."
Lewis is still only 27 years of age but has a lot of experience playing at the higher level.Simmo believes that he can still play at a higher level and is hoping that he will take this chance with Town: "I want him to take this chance, he is coming in on a two year contract and I want him to show he can play at a higher level.
"Lewis is looking forward to getting down to work as he's had a little bit of frustrating time waiting for things to happen.
"I put a call into him at the end of the season to tell him I was interested but until I knew what was going on with the other players I couldn't do anything."
With Lewis joining and with Simmo still hopeful that Chris Humphrey will join before the end of the week it suggests that Town will be playing with wingers next season:"I think wingers are a good outlet if you have got ones who are being affective.
"I'm not set in my ways of playing in any particular way at the start of the season.
"Last year we playing 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-5-1 and I'll play any formation that I think is the right one for a certain game.
"I want to get our lads knowing their jobs and to get two wide players going past to get crosses in and create chances.
"I like 4-4-2 and I think most supporters like 4-4-2, I'm probably biased as I was a left-winger myself but I don't think there is a better site in football than seeing someone bombing down the wing and getting crosses in for the forwards to score with."
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