Stéphane Zubar's quest to sign for Plymouth Argyle seemed set to end in failure last month, but the French defender has been rewarded for a patient wait and will after all have a chance to state his case for a place in the Pilgrims' first XI.

Zubar was the only arrival at Home Park on Tuesday, when the summer transfer window was shut. The right-back has been given a monthly contract to begin with, while Argyle complete the formalities of securing international clearance to play him in npower League One fixtures.

Zubar is no stranger to the rest of the Pilgrims' squad. He turned up in Plymouth for a trial at the end of July, and he played for Argyle in a pre-season friendly at Queen's Park Rangers. A deal to sign him was not done then, though, because financial terms could not be agreed.

There was also some doubt, it is believed, over whether or not Zubar was a free agent. Whatever was responsible for the hold-up has been resolved, however, and he will be asked to sign a contract of appropriate length when his clearance has been secured.

Zubar was used as a right- back in his initial spell with the Pilgrims, but he can also operate as a centre-back. "He's a right-back who can play in a few positions," Argyle manager Peter Reid explained. "He's a strong boy and he impressed me in the summer, but we couldn't do the deal.

"I couldn't afford it then, but the deal has changed now so I'm delighted. He did very well in the game against QPR."

The 23-year-old was born in Guadeloupe, a French territory in the West Indies, and began his professional football career in France with Caen. He had loan spells with French club Pau and with FC Brussels in Belgium, before signing for Romanian top-flight side Vaslui in February last year.

Zubar, who has played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup for Guadeloupe's national team, left Vaslui this summer. Before coming to Plymouth, he trained with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where his brother, Ronald, is part of the first-team squad.

The Premier League club's manager tipped off Argyle about the availability and the ability of Zubar. "It was a recommendation off Mick McCarthy, who is a big pal of mine," Reid added. "He [Zubar] was training with them before he came to us."

As well as adding Zubar to their payroll on Tuesday, the Pilgrims parted company with Chris Barker. The experienced defender joined Southend United on a free transfer, after spending the first month of the season on loan to the League Two club.

The Essex side are managed by former Argyle boss Paul Sturrock, who brought Barker to Plymouth two years ago. On Tuesday, the Scotsman said: "Chris has done exceptionally well for us so far. He has shown that he's comfortable at left-back or centre-back, and I'm delighted to have him on board permanently."

Barker said: "I've really enjoyed myself over the last month. I've signed for two years at least, and hopefully it might be longer.

"This deal gives me some personal stability. I had a year left at Plymouth, but I wasn't really wanted down there."

Scottish forward Alan Gow, whose contract with Argyle was cancelled in July, did not find a new club prior to the closure of the transfer window, but, as a free agent, he was not condemned to unemployment.

Gow has accepted a deal to join Scottish Premier League club Motherwell until the end of the year. St Mirren were also keen to sign him, while it looked like he might be on his way to Swindon Town at the weekend.

Argyle's League One rivals failed to agree terms with Gow, however, much to the dismay and anger of their chairman. Andrew Fitton told the Swindon Advertiser: "It is frustrating that somebody wants to try and change the deal right at the last minute.

"It was clearly all about him and the money. We want players who have a passion and desire to play for Swindon Town, but he was trying to improve it [his deal] before he had even pulled on a Swindon shirt and kicked a ball for the club. That is a disgrace."

Blackburn Rovers midfield man Alan Judge, who had two profitable loan spells with Plymouth in the Championship, joined Notts County on Tuesday in a loan transfer which will keep him at Meadow Lane until January.