June 6 2008

Jeff Hughes

Crystal Palace midfielder Jeff Hughes has joined Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee in excess of £100,000.

Hughes was frozen out by Eagles manager Neil Warnock who sent the left winger on loan to Peterbrough in November.

The 23-year-old, signed by former Eagles boss Peter Taylor from Lincoln last summer, was then shipped out to Rovers in March but injured ankle ligaments during a reserve game.

After making just four starts and six sub appearances for Palace, Hughes made the switch to Rovers full time and pens a three-year deal.

Bristol Rovers director of football, Lennie Lawrence, said: "We are delighted to bring to an end the pursuit of Jeff Hughes. We have been after him for six months, and he has now signed a deal with us.

"He is a quality addition to our squad, who can play at left midfield or left back. We think we have secured a player with Championship potential, and Palace must agree as they paid double what we have for him just a year ago."

Vice chairman Nick Higgs said: "This has been quite a complicated and drawn out negotiation, but we are pleased to have achieved it at last."