Striker Simon Thomas signs on loan…

The Fleet have bolstered their forward line ahead of the weekend clash at Field Mill against Mansfield Town by signing 25-year-old striker Simon Thomas from Crystal Palace.

Arriving at Stonebridge Road on an initial one-month loan, the six-foot-tall pacy target man played for Aveley, Wivenhoe Town and Redbridge before enjoying a prolific spell at Boreham Wood (33 goals in 71 games), bringing him to the attention of Palace for whom he signed a two-year contract in 2008 for a small fee.

Palace fought off the attentions of Southampton, Watford and Colchester United for his signature. Loan spells at Rotherham and Grays Athletic followed and he was told by manager Neil Warnock that he was free to leave the Selhurst Park club in summer 2009. He was linked with Burton Albion and AFC Wimbledon in the close season but moves instead to the Fleet this month.