Matt Harrold the latest signing for new-look Crawley Town

The highly experienced 29-year-old has played more than 250 League games and featured against Reds last season when Rovers knocked them out of the FA Cup.

Reds boss John Gregory believes the 6ft 1in forward can provide the perfect foil for fellow striker Izale McLeod, another new signing this week, in a potent new-look frontline.

Gregory said: “Matt is 6ft-plus and will give our attack a real physical presence. But he’s also very good on the floor and links the play well. “In the last four years, Matt has averaged a goal every 2.9 games which is a very impressive statistic.

“Izale McLeod is averaging a goal every 2.3 games so between them statistically we have two very good strikers.

“When we played Bristol Rovers last season I was very impressed with him. He’s come here for a fresh challenge and has scored goals at this level in the past and I think he can do so again.”

Harrold began his career at Brentford and has played for Dagenham & Redbridge, Grimsby, Yeovil, Southend United, Wycombe Wanderers, Shrewsbury Town and Bristol Rovers.

He was Bristol Rovers’ top scorer with 18 goals in his first season at the club in 2011, but missed nine months of the following season with a cruciate ligament injury, and is now looking to relaunch his career at the Broadfield.

On completing his move, Harrold said: “When I heard a club like Crawley were interested I wanted to speak to the gaffer and he sold the club really well.

“There are going to be a lot of new faces in the dressing room but that’s not a bad thing.

“We will all get stuck in during pre-season and it’s up to me and everyone else to convince the manager that we should be in his line-up for the first league game at Barnsley on August 9.”