YEOVIL Town manager Terry Skiverton has completed his first signing of the summer by snapping up defender Stefan Stam on a free transfer.

The 29-year-old was released by Coca-Cola League One rivals Oldham Athletic at the end of last season, having made over 100 appearances – scoring once – during an injury-ravaged five-year spell at Boundary Park.

Stam was high on Skiverton's wish-list and, after completing the deal, the Glovers' boss expressed his delight with the acquisition.

"I'm really pleased to sign him," he said. "He's got a really good pedigree and he's exactly the type of character that we are looking for here at Huish Park.

"Of all my summer targets, Stefan has been up there at the top of the list and I'm really pleased to have agreed a contract with him."

The 6ft 2in Dutchman started his career in Holland with VV Grasshoppers (Hoogwoud) before he represented the youth teams of both AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven. However, it was with FC Eindhoven that he made his professional debut, before moving to England and joining Oldham in the summer of 2003 after impressing during a trial.

Stam will link up with his new team- mates when they return for pre-season training on July 1, and the Dutchman was happy to have his future resolved. "Naturally, I'm really pleased to be joining Yeovil," he said.

"Terry invited me down to Yeovil a few weeks ago and I was impressed with what I saw and his plans for the club. I also spoke to [former Oldham team-mate] Paul Warne and he was equally enthusiastic about Yeovil Town.

"Terry made it obvious that he really wanted me to join, and it is always nice when a manager really wants you at the club."

Warne, meanwhile, will not be at Huish Park by the time Stam arrives, after the Glovers decided to release the veteran forward.

Warne, 36, was brought to Somerset by Russell Slade in the summer of 2007 and he went on to make 77 appearances for the club ,scoring five goals.

His contract was up this summer and it appeared the former Wigan, Rotherham and Oldham man was set to sign a new one earlier this week. However, the club have decided to withdraw the offer after failing to agree terms. The club are also hoping to secure the services of another out-of-contract player, Josh Wagenaar. The Canadian goalkeeper, the only glovesman on Yeovil's books, is also out of contract at the end of the month and he has had little contact with the club since the end of last season. Skiverton is keen to get things sorted stating: "We haven't had much dialogue with Josh so we don't know where we stand.

"The fact that he has been called up by Canada doesn't help so we need to speak to Josh in the next few days. At the end of the day, we don't want to go into pre-season without a goalkeeper so we need to get things sorted."

The Somerset club could be left in the awkward situation of having no 'keeper for their newly-appointed goalkeeping coach, Ben Roberts, to work with when the players report back for pre-season training in July.

The former Middlesbrough 'keeper was confirmed as the club's new goalkeeper coach/scout yesterday, while former youth and reserve-team player Simon Baker will be the club's new physiotherapist.

Baker played for the Glovers at the turn of the century before studying a sports science degree. Roberts played for Middlesbrough in their 2007 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea, but was forced to retire from the game at the age of 29 due to a back injury. He is now 34.

A HOST of familiar names will turn out at Huish Park for Skiverton's testimonial match next Saturday. A Terry Skiverton Select XI, including Chelsea and England captain John Terry, will take on the Glovers' 2002-03 Conference title- winning team to celebrate the player- manager's ten years with the Glovers.

Confirmed players so far: Chris Weale, Steve Collis, Tony Pennock, Adam Lockwood, Abdou El-Kholti, Gavin Williams, Lee Johnson, Ben Smith, Michael McIndoe, Kirk Jackson, Warren Patmore, Nick Crittenden, Roy O'Brien, Tom White, Andy Lindegaard, Colin Miles, Scott Guyett, Carl Alford, Kevin Gall, Gary Johnson, Mike Milligan, Dennis Wise, Lee Trundle, Keith O'Neill, Muzzy Izzet, Dave Lee, Gus Poyet, Tore André Flo, John Terry, Paul Terry, Marcus Stewart, Adam Stansfield, Chris Cohen, Arron Davies, Phil Jevons, Michael Duberry, Andy Wallace, Tubes (Soccer AM), Mark Chapman (Radio 1), Ian Abrahams (Talk Sport).