Barrow AFC have continued their summer recruitment with the signing of defender Bradley Barry, who becomes the second new arrival at Holker Street this week.

The 24-year-old, who is the nephew of former England midfielder Gareth Barry, has joined on a two-year contract following his release from the Bluebirds’ National League rivals Chesterfield earlier this month.

Barry is a player already well-known to AFC manager Ian Evatt, as the right-back played alongside his new boss in the Spireites’ defence during the 2017/18 season.

The announcement of his signing came 24 hours after former Peterborough United striker Morgan Penfold became the first new signing ahead of next season.

Evatt said: “I know Brad very well. He can play a few different positions – right-back, right wing-back, even the right of a front three. He’s very athletic, he’s the right age again for what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to build.

“He’s got plenty of League experience with Swindon Town in League One and in League Two with Swindon and Chesterfield, so I’m very pleased to get Brad because he’s a very good player and we’re looking forward to getting started.”

Barry began his career at Brighton & Hove Albion, but he was released in the summer of 2015 without making a senior appearance, whereupon he signed for Swindon Town.

He remained with the Robins for two seasons before leaving, following their relegation from League One, in 2017.

It is from there that he joined Chesterfield, but he suffered the drop again in his first season at the Proact Stadium, as the Spireites tumbled out of the Football League.

Barry made 26 league appearances last season, scoring two goals, as he helped Chesterfield climb away from yet more relegation trouble to eventually finish in the safety of mid-table.

Evatt believes he’ll have no problem with fitting in with the style of play that he has implemented at the Bluebirds since taking charge last year.

He said: “I think he in the end turned down an offer from Chesterfield to come to us, which says a lot about us.

“With the way we play, he will take to it like a duck to water because he knows about me and he knows how our teams play and he is very much an attacking full-back, so he will fit in with what we do.

“He can do both side of the game, get forward and defend, and we’ve now got competition for places with him and Connor [Brown] and both can probably play left side as well.”