Iron caretaker manager Russ Wilcox has expressed his satisfaction at wrapping up a deal to bring United favourite Paul Hayes back to the club for a third spell at Glanford Park.
Hayes first joined the Iron from Norwich in December 2002, and scored 34 goals in 116 appearances before departing for Barnsley in the summer of 2005 – with his most notable contribution coming in the successful 2004/2005 League Two promotion campaign as he netted 19 times.He returned to North Lincolnshire in 2007 and amassed a further 40 goals in 150 matches to take his Iron career total to 74 goals in 266 games prior to making the switch to Preston North End in 2010.
Following his release from Brentford United at the start of December, the Dagenham-born forward has been training with the club, and signed a deal until the end of the season on Tuesday amid reported interested from Crawley Town.
Wilcox was clearly pleased to finally get his man, and told The Iron Player: “I am delighted to have him on board. I think when a player comes available with that quality it would be silly for you not to look at it.
“Myself and Brian [Laws] brought him to the club as a 19-year-old and this will be his third spell at the club. He is very hungry and keen to do well for us and is only 30-years-old.”
The caretaker boss also praised Hayes’ continuing appetite for first team football, and added: “For him it would have been a lot easier to sign for the likes of Crawley, Wycombe or Luton and I think it puts what we are doing in a good light as he wants to be part of it.
“That tells you a lot about Paul – it will be difficult for him because of his family life. His family will still be based down South yet he is making that commitment to us as a club.”
Hayes returns to a United squad already boasting a number of familiar faces in the shape of the likes of Andy Dawson, David Mirfin and Matt Sparrow – and his mutual affection for the club and its fans is likely to further foster the current feel-good factor in existence around Glanford Park.
This was a further consideration taken by Wilcox, who added: “He has had two spells with the club and did well on both of those occasions.
“Hopefully he’ll be able to push us on to more success this season and a promotion with a bit of luck. When you have been in situations like Paul has when you are not getting game time at a club it just makes you even more hungry and determined to do well.”
The striker will be ineligible for selection until January 2 in accordance with the elapsed player registration deadline – making him unavailable for matches up to and including the New Year’s Day home clash with Rochdale.
See much more from Russ Wilcox, Sam Slocombe and Deon Burton on The Iron Player in the run-up to the weekend.