O'Connor finally joins Diamonds
Aaron O'Connor has finally joined Rushden & Diamonds – three years after a deal broke down.
The striker looked set for a move to Nene Park immediately following
relegation back into the Conference in the summer of 2006 when boss Paul Hart invited him for a pre-season trial due to his prolific form at Gresley Rovers.
O'Connor featured in friendlies – including home games against Nottingham Forest and Reading – before Hart decided to instead opt for Michael Rankine.
But now the 25-year-old has signed for Diamonds just a few days since Rankine joined Blue Square Premier rivals York City in exchange for Craig Farrell plus 10,000.
The free transfer from Mansfield Town also reunites O'Connor with Justin Edinburgh, who had previously taken him to Grays Athletic.
Diamonds manager Edinburgh said: "I bought him from Gresley and paid a small fee for him at the time.
"So he's someone who I know inside out, having worked with him for a while.
"His record at a lower level certainly suggests that he's a natural goal-scorer if he gets the right service.
"I feel he also knows what I expect from him – particularly because, like Craig Farrell, he brings a phenomenal work-rate.
"He's another signing who comes here at a good age in his career and he can score goals as well if we give him an opportunity to do that."
O'Connor has signed a one-year contract with an option for Diamonds to extend the deal at the end of next season.
Last season O'Connor scored eight goals for Mansfield and struck twice in three minutes against Diamonds as Grays won 3-1 in March 2007.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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