Lee Martin: Taunton-born midfielder joins Exeter City

The 31-year-old, who started his career with Manchester United, is an experienced Football League operator with just shy of 300 appearances to his name at clubs including Rangers, Ipswich Town and Millwall.

He joins the Grecians having spent two seasons at Gillingham, captaining the side in League One last season, while he also led Northampton Town to the League Two title in 2015/16.

A versatile player who is capable of lining up across the midfield, Martin is one of a number of experienced additions made by new City manager Matt Taylor, who took over from long-serving boss Paul Tisdale in early June.

Taylor told the Exeter website: “He has had a really good career and hopefully his career has got a lot of years left.

"He is a fit lad, an attacking player, he can play either side and down the middle.

"He is a fantastic athlete in terms of his running abilities and we are going to be a running team this year and he is going to have to work hard to get in that team and play an important part in our attacking play.

“He captained a League One club last season, he is a real coup for the club, a good signing for us and he is improving our midfield attacking options.

"I will utilise him to suit his strengths, but he’s conscious in and out of possession, he has a really good attitude and a good work ethic.

"Like all of the other signings that I’ve made, I’ve done my research on him, I’ve spoken to the lads at Gillingham and his previous clubs and they’ve all spoken highly of him, so I’m delighted to secure him.”

Martin could make his Grecians bow in the town of his birth on Friday evening - Taunton Town's clash with Exeter City gets underway at 7.30pm at the Viridor Stadium.

Adult tickets are £7, concessions are £5, under-18s are £2 and season ticket holders and under-14s get in free.

Taunton play their first home friendly tonight against a Plymouth Argyle XI - click here for a match preview.