Cheltenham Town: No rest for Yates after Taylor coup

PAUL Benson is set to complete his loan move to Cheltenham Town today, joining Jason Taylor at the Abbey Business Stadium – and Mark Yates is not finished there.

The Robins boss brought in midfielder Taylor from Rotherham United on a two-and-a-half year deal yesterday.

He is hoping to add Swindon Town target man Benson and another player to his squad before the transfer window closes on Thursday night.

Yates said Taylor's arrival on a free transfer from League Two promotion rivals Rotherham was important, not only for this season's push for League One, but also for the club's future.

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"I am delighted to sign Jason and the length of the deal is particularly pleasing," Yates said.

"To have him for the next two seasons after this is massive because it gives me some continuity and I didn't want to just be signing loans.

"As soon as I knew he was available I wanted him and after meeting with him a couple of times I wanted to bring him here even more.

"I like everything about him: he is a leader, a winner and he knows the game."

Yates said that Taylor's attributes would complement his three main midfield players, Darren Carter, Marlon Pack and Russ Penn.

"We have a lot of quality in there and I am definitely blessed in the midfield department now, but Jason could be the one we were missing," he said.

"His work rate is superb and, speaking to a couple of people up in the north, they can't believe we have signed him on a free really."

Yates praised the board for backing him with Taylor's signing, and said that he would now turn his attentions to adding at least two more new faces.

"The board have backed me and been brilliant because we have an 18-game season now and have to kick on," he said.

"I am trying to bring in more and in an ideal world it would all be done by now, but it's gone down to the last few days and the board have been trying to find me the money, so it's much appreciated."

Taylor, who turned 26 yesterday, started his career as a trainee at Oldham Athletic before joining Stockport in August 2006.

He has shone in matches against Cheltenham in the past for both loan club Rochdale and Rotherham, and he scored in the Millers' 1-1 draw at Whaddon Road in April 2011.

He was also influential in Rochdale's 4-1 win at Cheltenham in January 2010 and Rotherham's 6-4 victory at the Don Valley in August that year. Taylor will go straight into the squad for Saturday's home match against Torquay United.

Rotherham boss Steve Evans has said he has a "gentleman's agreement" with Yates that Taylor will not play when the two teams meet at Whaddon Road on March 16.

Shortly before one Taylor arrived at the Abbey Business Stadium another departed.

Wales Under-21 international midfielder Jake Taylor has returned to parent club Reading after two months on loan with the Robins.

He scored once in nine starts and two substitute appearances.

Yates said that he would explore the possibility of loaning out members of his squad when the window for temporary signings reopens next week.

"I am not desperate to loan players out and I don't need to, but I have to be mindful of what I have got," he said.

"I'm happy with the business I have done, and in the next couple of days hopefully we'll have some more good news."

Yates added Manchester United youngster Luke McCullough on a month's loan on Friday, as well as securing midfielder Carter's services until the summer.