WANDERERS have plucked free agent Andy Tutte from League One Accrington Stanley’s grasp on the eve of the new season.

Ian Evatt has moved for a 16th signing of the summer, bringing in a player who featured briefly in the club’s opening pre-season game at Atherton Colls.

Former Bury and Rochdale midfielder Tutte found himself out of favour with Morecambe boss Derek Adams last season and left the club over the summer.

He has since been strongly linked with a move back to Dale and had trained with Stanley until recently.

Tutte signs a one-year contract and Evatt is convinced he can be a valuable addition to the cause.

“It’s obvious from the last couple of weeks that we’re a bit light on numbers but he brings a lot of experience at this level, which is important, and he’s had a great upbringing from Manchester City’s youth academy and set-up,” he said.

“He will give us some added competition in the midfield role.”

Liverpool-born Tutte played for England at Under-19s and 20 level and has more than 250 league appearances under his belt.

“I’m buzzing and over the moon to sign with such a big club,” he said. “I can’t wait to get started.

“I got to know the lads when I was in training earlier in the summer and I get on with every single one of them.

“I’ve been promoted from this league before and I know what it takes to succeed at this level.

“This group of players are capable of that 100 per cent.”

Evatt is still looking to boost his strike-force but needed to add another attacking midfielder to his ranks after Dennis Politic was ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

The Whites head coach is delighted with his recruitment efforts thus far and feels the methods used to bring players aboard should mean the squad settles quicker than would normally be the case.

“I don’t think we’ve lost out on anybody we’ve actually wanted,” he said. “Everybody we have actually attempted to sign so far, we’ve signed.

“That says to me that we are getting the right characters in and they are coming to Wanderers because of the right reasons, and not financial ones.

“And it also says we were smart and we recruited quick. We recognised the positions we needed, how it fits into the way we want to do things.

“People can question where we are with the salary cap – but we’re within it. We’re doing everything we can to abide by it.

“We haven’t had to convince anyone. We have recruited specifically for the roles we see them in.

“The reason they are here is because they fit the system. They may need fine tuning but we’re working very hard on the training ground.

“I have seen some fantastic signs in pre-season and though we’re not there yet, I am very confident going into the season that we can do well.”