Welsh International joins the Gas!
Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke has today signed Welsh international striker Jermaine Easter in a permanent deal, subject to a satisfactory medical.Cardiff born Easter has recently been released by Millwall and his move to the Memorial Stadium sees him link up again with Darrell. The two of them were team mates at Hartlepool, whom Easter joined in 2001after being released by Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Since leaving Hartlepool, for whom he made 29 league appearances, Jermaine has played for Cambridge United, Boston United, Stockport County, Wycombe Wanderers, Plymouth Argyle, Colchester United, MK Dons, Swansea City, Crystal Palace and, of course, Millwall.
His most prolific spell in club football came with Wycombe Wanderers and he scored 21 goals in 61 league appearances whilst at Adams Park.
He has twice been a Football League Cup semi-finalist, with Wycombe and with Crystal Palace and was in the PFA Team of the Year in 2006/07.
He has made nine appearances in the Championship for Millwall this season, the last of which was on Boxing Day when he scored a consolation goal for The Lions as they crashed to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Norwich City.
His career has taken in over 350 first class games, almost 100 goals, and 12 full international caps for Wales, for whom he made his debut in a friendly match against Northern Ireland in January 2007.
Speaking of his new signing, Darrell said; "Although Jermaine was keen to move to a club closer to his Cardiff home, he has come to us for all the right reasons.
However the fact that he was keen to be closer to home, it gave us an advantage when it came to signing a player of his calibre.
He had a number of league clubs interested in signing him and the fact that I know him from our days at Hartlepool was a big help.
He’s enjoyed a good career since then but still has a lot to offer and it’s a really good signing for us.
He will give our strikeforce a bit of a boost as they are all young lads who will benefit from his experience and also add competition for places.
Chairman Nick Higgs added; "I would like to welcome Jermaine to Bristol Rovers and wish him every success during his time with us. Jermaine and the club have initially agreed an 18 month contract, with the ability to extend further.
"Darrell has brought in a player who has shown a willingness and a desire to play for this football club.
"A Welsh international, Jermaine has played Championship football with Millwall this season and is a very experienced and powerful striker.
"I think it's quite a coup, for Darrell and for us as a club, to bring a player of Jermaine's calibre to the Memorial Stadium and I am sure that our supporters will enjoy seeing him wearing the blue and white quarters.
"I believe that both of today’s signings show that we are backing Darrell as he bids to strengthen his squad for the final 16 games of the season and that it also sends out a message to the other sides in our league that we are doing all we can to secure a return to the Football League at the first time of asking."