Magpies make double defender swoop

NOTTS County today completed the double signing of defenders Graeme Lee and Nottingham Forest's Brendan Moloney.

Thirty-one-year-old centre-back Lee has signed a two-year deal at Meadow Lane, after exercising a clause in his contract to leave Bradford City after they failed to win promotion from League Two last season.

And right-back Moloney, 20, has agreed a six-months' loan deal to cross the River Trent from the City Ground.

Boss Ian McParland has revealed the pair will be his last defensive signings of the summer, which rules out a move for Phil Picken who enjoyed a successful loan spell with the club at the end of last season.

The signing of Lee is the first act of chairman-elect Peter Trembling.

The head of the Middle Eastern consortium, Munto Finance Ltd, is set to take over Notts and gave McParland the green light to sign the towering centre-back.

Lee held talks at Meadow Lane last Thursday before passing a medical and agreeing terms.

He said: "You are always unsure when you come to a club about its ambitions.

"But after speaking to the manager, it's clear he wants to take this club forward, he wants to be climbing the leagues.

"I spoke to a few clubs in League One but it's exciting times with the takeover and I want to be a part of it.

"I have won a few promotions in my career, that's what you want.

"When you have done it you want to be somewhere that is ambitious and will strive for success."

Lee played with Notts winger Matt Hamshaw at Sheffield Wednesday earlier in his career.

"He's one of my best friends," added Lee. "I know from speaking to him there's a good squad here and I know the manager is trying to bring in even more good players.

"I went to the races at Doncaster with him on Saturday night. He says he's excited about me coming here – but he has to say that!

"He only lives about ten minutes away from me so we'll travel in together."

Lee and Moloney will both report for training on the first day of the Magpies' pre-season today.

Lee is already relishing facing two of his old clubs in the first two games of the season, against Bradford at Meadow Lane on August 8 and at home to Doncaster in the Carling Cup three days later.

"It starts today, trying to get as fit as possible, get a few games and fight for a place, everyone's going to be doing that," he said.

"I can't believe I could be playing against my last two clubs, it's a good start.

"I will look forward to them but no doubt I'll get a bit of stick."

McParland is delighted with the capture of Lee. And he believes he has assembled a strong set of defenders, with experience and versatility.

He said: "He (Lee) will give us even more experience and leadership at the back.

"He has won three promotions in his career so he will bring a winning mentality into the squad.

"With him and Brendan signing, I have a lot of good options at the back.

"The competition for places will be fierce, the fiercest it's been since I've been here.

"I hope it will bring out the best in all of them."

McParland is still hunting a new striker capable of scoring 20-plus goals a season to fire the club's promotion ambitions in League Two.

"We are waiting on answers from some players and we're still trying to speak to strikers," he said.

Notts look set to receive £125,000 from the sale of ex-striker David McGoldrick's £1m move to Forest, as part of a sell-on clause.