TOWN boss Andy Ritchie today snapped up pacy striker Danny Cadamarteri and predicted: "He can turn the clock back here."

The 27-year-old from Cleckheaton has agreed a two-year contract to become the manager's second close-season signing after defender Frank Sinclair.

Ritchie has been tracking the former Everton, Bradford City, Leeds and Sheffield United man since news of his release by Leicester emerged.

League I rivals Doncaster, for whom he played six games on loan in March and April, are also believed to have been in the hunt.

It's the second time Ritchie has tried to sign the former Everton wonderkid and England Under 21 player, who burst onto the Goodison scene a decade ago and this time last year was starting a six-month drugs ban after testing positive for the banned substance ephedrine.

Once the suspension had finished, he offered Cadamarteri a route back into football via a trial at Barnsley, only to be sacked by the Oakwell club within a week of the player's arrival.

"It fell through for obvious reasons, but who knows, that could have been a factor in Danny signing for me now," he said.

"I believe he is a quality player who offers us options up front, wide left and wide right.

"Signing a pacy striker has been a priority and I'm delighted to get Danny on board in the face of a lot of competition from other clubs.

"He's had his problems in the past, but I believe what he has been through will sharpen his desire to get what was once a very promising career back on track."

Ritchie added: "There's no doubt Danny has that touch of class, and it's up to us and him that it is seen on a regular basis.

"He's still only 27 - he seems to have been around so long because he was just a kid when he first emerged at Everton - and he has certainly learned from the things he has been through.

"As far as I am concerned, it's a clean slate, and I think this move could act as a springboard for him.

"He kept himself in good shape when he was suspended.

"And after being released by Leicester, he booked himself into a specialist Dutch sports fitness clinic where they carried out a series of tests and gave him a programme to follow, which shows a bit of maturity.

"For various reasons, he has flitted between clubs since leaving Everton, and I think he's desperate to get a bit of stability and focus on his football.

"With a two-year deal here, he can do that, and I think the fact that he has picked us should give everyone a lift.

"I also think he will complement the strikers we already have here and provide something that little bit different."

Ritchie insisted the capture of Cadamarteri, who has played 252 games in all (107 them off the bench) and scored 28 goals, doesn't mean his interest in ex-Leeds striker Ian Moore is at an end.

"We've got quite a few irons in the fire," he added.