On the day Andy Burgess departed for Luton Town and Marcus Kelly joined Oxford United, Porter, who turns 22 next month, arrived at Nene Park.

It was a busy time for manager Justin Edinburgh who also clinched a deal to keep defender Simon Downer for the new Blue Square Premier
campaign.

Porter was released by Coca-Cola League Two side Barnet at the end of last season having made over 50 appearances for the Bees.

And he insisted Diamonds was one of the clubs at the top of his list.

"I know Justin through some mutual friends and when I was released by Barnet one of the teams I wanted to come to play for was Rushden &
Diamonds," Porter said.

"You only have to look at the facilities here to see what sort of club it is and I am delighted to be here.

"You look around this club and it should be in the Football League. As a group of players we have got to try to make that happen next season.

"We are probably going to be a young team but that's no bad thing as long as we are all hungry for success.

"We will have players who have plenty of experience from a higher level and I have no doubt we will be able to match the majority of teams in the new season."

Edinburgh, meanwhile, was delighted by his latest work in the transfer market and revealed there is likely to be even more movement before the end of the week.

The Diamonds boss said: "Max ticks all the right boxes. He's a modern-day midfield player and he's a young boy with good Football League
experience.

"I brought him up here a week or so ago, showed him the facilities and told him my ambitions for the club.

"He has bought into those and I am delighted because he has turned down good offers from other clubs.

"He has chosen to come here to use the excellent facilities and to better himself.

"He's come in along with the likes of Kurt Robinson, Nicky McNamara and Simon Downer so I am pleased with the way things have gone.

"I am hopeful of announcing another two, maybe three, later this week but it may take a little bit longer to finalise the squad."