AVELEY have pulled off a coup by signing former Billericay captain Micah Hyde.

The midfielder was Town’s players’ player of the year last season and led the team to their first major cup win in 35 years when they lifted the Essex Senior Cup.

But the former Watford, Burnley and Barnet pro was released days after the end of the season as Billericay looked to free up the budget for new recruits.

Aveley manager Carl Griffiths said he had been in regular contact with Hyde since early May, and they had concluded the deal on Monday night.

He said Hyde had agreed to join even if Aveley had not been reprieved from their relegation to Ryman One North.

And he revealed that the 36-year-old, who lives in Chafford Hundred, will get the chance to develop his coaching career at the Mill Field.

Griffiths said he knew all about Hyde’s qualities having played against him when Leyton Orient met Barnet a few years ago.

Griffiths said: “I think the signing of Micah will make people think that Aveley do not just want to make up the numbers this year.

“He had a good season at Billericay, and he will be another leader on the pitch for us.”

Griffiths said he had not yet decided who would be his captain for the coming season, but hinted it could once again be supporters’ player of the year Tony Russell, who has just signed a new deal.

Russell’s partner in central defence, Spencer Harrison, has also put pen to paper on a new deal.

Aveley have also brought in experienced midfielder Ross Parmenter.

He spent last season at Ryman One North play-off finalists Brentwood, and was known to be attracting interest from higher up the non-league pyramid.

Left winger Lee Perry, another one of Griffiths’ former players at Brentwood, has also signed.

Strikers Sherwin Stanley and Ryan Stalley will also return to Mill Field for the new campaign, as do Joey May and Alfie Dady.

And keeper Dave McCartney and former Thurrock and Brent-wood stopper Billy McMahon will fight it out for the number one jersey.

The deals follow hot on the heels of Aveley’s Ryman Premier reprieve following Rushden & Diamonds’ dismissal from the Conference National for financial irregularities