WYCOMBE Wanderers yesterday completed the signing of Jamie Bates on a free transfer from Brentford, ending the defender's 15-year association with the Bees.

Bates was recommended to boss Lawrie Sanchez by Terry Evans, who played alongside 31-year-old Bates in the Bees championship winning side of 1992.

Sanchez said: "He's a player in the same mould as Terry. He's highly rated and when Terry recommends someone you listen."

Bates, who once played one game on loan for Blues in 1986, said: "I'll be giving it my all but there's more to my game than heading it and kicking it away. I can play a bit as well."

He added: "Brentford got relegated last year and I don't want to go down again but if it does happen I think Wycombe have got the players to come straight back."

Bates' arrival on a two-year deal kills two birds with one stone for Sanchez, who now looks ready to bow to Keith Ryan's demands to return to midfield -- thus abandoning his own search for a loan midfielder to cover for Steve Brown's expected lengthy ban when he's summonsed before FA disciplinary chiefs.

Sanchez said: "Rhino feels his best position is in midfield and he's got all the qualities of a good midfielder. He's tall, he's fit, he can tackle and he can pass the ball. He's got all the qualities I've been looking for. I was looking outside the club for a midfielder but maybe I already had him here."

Rhino has struggled to adapt to Sanchez's two central defenders policy and was dropped for the midweek trip to Bristol after a disappointing game at Reading.

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