YORK City’s deadline day loan signing Andre Boucaud has been a long-time transfer target for manager Gary Mills.
A delighted Mills admitted that the Trinidad and Tobago international was always on his radar during his time as Tamworth manager and has thanked City chairman Jason McGill for providing him with the means to acquire the Enfield-born 26-year-old’s services.
The City chief said: “Andre will bring a lot to the team. He’s a player that I have targeted for a long time and have always wanted at my club.
“I’ve not been able to do that in the past, but the chairman has given me that opportunity and I’m delighted to have signed him for York because he’s a good player and a footballer who I think can thrive on the way we play.”
Boucaud has been capped six times by Trinidad having started out on Tottenham and QPR’s books as a youngster.
He went on to sign professional terms with Reading only for Peterborough to hand him his first senior opportunities in 2003.
Boucaud has since spent all but one of the last five campaigns at Kettering – the exception being 2007/8 when he plied his trade at Wycombe Wanderers.
City’s new midfielder is ineligible to play in today’s scheduled FA Cup tie at Darlington, having already figured for Kettering in the competition against Rushden and Diamonds.
He will, however, be free for selection in the FA Trophy, which will see the Minstermen play host to Boston United two weeks today.
Boucaud will join the likes of Jonathan Smith, Danny Racchi, Robbie Weir, Djoumin Sangare, David McDermott, Neil Barrett, Levi Mackin and Chris Carruthers in the battle for midfield places at Bootham Crescent.
Mills admitted he would have liked to have concluded a loan move to another Blue Square Bet Premier club for Mackin, who is struggling to regain match fitness after returning from the knee ligament injury he suffered in August.
Added the Minstermen leader: “I think the competition for places in midfield is excellent.
“We have got a few bodies in there and, because of that, we wanted Levi to get some football because he needs games.
“But he still might join a Blue Square Bet North team, who are not restricted by last night’s deadline.”
Striker Michael Gash, who turned down loan moves away from City this week, and transfer-listed right-back Duane Courtney also remain at the club.