ANDY TODD finally put pen to paper yesterday afternoon as he became the first summer signing for Rovers manager Graeme Souness.
The former Middlesbrough, Bolton and Charlton defender has signed a three year deal and he will cost Rovers £750,000, a figure that will rise to £1million on appearances.
But talk about a second swoop with a £3million bid for Coventry City's former Liverpool midfielder David Thompson is "premature", according to chief executive John Williams.
Todd had impressed Souness on the training ground towards the end of the season and Williams explained today: "We did the deal yesterday because Andy has gone away on holiday this morning.
"Graeme is delighted with the signing and there is no way he has just come in to make up the numbers. It is a squad game today and he will be a key player in ours."
Todd ended the season as a key factor in the survival of Grimsby Town in the first division and the 27-year-old is both strong and versatile, two attributes that will be of benefit to Souness as he plots Rovers return into Europe.
Having secured the signature of Todd, son of former England star Colin, there are no other signings imminent although Williams confirmed that the search for fresh talent is continuing.
"There has been talk about bringing in two or three new faces but there is nothing new happening at the moment," he said as the world of football gets ready for the drama to unfold in the Far East over the next month.
"We have made an enquiry to Coventry City about midfielder David Thompson but at this stage it is no more than that. He is a player that Graeme is interested in but there has not been a bid."
Thompson has also been linked with a move back to Merseyside with Everton boss David Moyes interested in signing him and his future is one of the first big decisions for the new Sky Blues manager Gary McAllister to make.
He was Coventry's star performed in the first division last season but would jump at the chance of a return to the Premier League.
