Clarke: Pens deal at Crawley
It didn't take long for the £800k fee to start being spent.
Blackpool forward Billy Clarke has joined the high-flying creepies for an undisclosed fee.
Clarke has penned a two-and-a-half year contract with the League Two high flyers and his capture comes as a boost to Red Devils boss Steve Evans following Matt Tubbs' departure to Bournemouth.
The 24-year-old Irishman was manager Ian Holloway's first signing at Bloomfield Road when he joined from Ipswich in summer 2009, but his time on the Fylde coast was decimated by injuries.
Clarke was prevented from making a single appearance during the Seasiders' Premier League campaign last term due to a knee injury.
He enjoyed a loan spell at Sheffield United earlier this season, scoring once in six games, before making his final Blackpool appearance against the Blades' city rivals Wednesday in last weekend's FA Cup fourth-round clash.
Evans again told www.crawleytownfc.com: "Several times I thought we had lost out on signing the lad but I never gave up and thankfully managed to persuade him to join us. We have signed a really talented player and for us to have beaten off some of the other clubs who made offers speaks volumes for what we are trying to do. This signing comes in addition to Sanchez Watt, who joined us last Thursday from Arsenal, and it is really great news."
Hawley: Joined Crawley on loan
Crawley have also completed the signing of Notts County striker Karl Hawley on loan until the end of the season.
The 30-year-old has made over 300 appearances in a 12-year career, scoring 78 goals.
Hawley followed fellow attacker Billy Clarke in moving to the Red Devils before the transfer window closed after top scorer Matt Tubbs left Steve Evans' side for Bournemouth on Monday.
Speaking to www.crawleytownfc.com, Evans said: "We have done two outstanding bits of transfer business by bringing in Billy Clarke and now Karl Hawley. Karl was our number one target for a while and certainly since the transfer window opened. He has been a regular for County this season but is very excited about the new challenge he is going to have with us here at Crawley Town. We have strengthened in the areas I identified at the start of the window and I am delighted with the business we have done in the last week."
Smith: Aldershot move
Creepies midfielder Ben Smith has joined Aldershot on a three-month loan deal.
The 33-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a long career in the Football League, making more than 400 appearances for clubs including Yeovil, Hereford and Shrewsbury.
However, he has found chances with the Red Devils limited this season and has gone to Aldershot in search of more regular first-team football.
Southend United still have to face the Shots twice in a month; away in the great floodlight failure rematch at the Rec on Tuesday, February 21st and the Roots Hall return on Tuesday, March 20th.
In between is the Crawley visit live on Sky on Monday, March 5th, the next six-pointer for the Shrimpers now the Swindon game has come and gone.
S24 is looking to build up it's editorial team, why not join us at the Shrimpers fastest growing unofficial site with up to and over 2,000 hits a day currently this month?
If you have something to say on the present exciting times at Southend United or an idea for a new poll, then click on the link with your article or contact details and we will get in touch, just a few lines will do: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk