FORMER Ipswich Town youngster Aidan Collins has given Chelmsford City's pre-season preparations a major boost after putting pen to paper on a one-year contract with the Clarets.

FORMER Ipswich Town youngster Aidan Collins has given Chelmsford City's pre-season preparations a major boost after putting pen to paper on a one-year contract with the Clarets.

Collins, whose professional career was brought to a premature end due to injury, has been one of the shining lights of the warm-up games to date, showing a series of commanding performances in the centre of defence against Coca-Cola Championship sides.

He joins a posse of other players whose registrations have been completed this week, including goalkeeper Richard McKinney, utility men Lee Protheroe and Chris Duffy and midfielders Jeff Minton and Jon Keeling.