Cyril Giraud the man for Stan

The 25-year-old joins from Blyth Town, where he made 21 appearances last season, scoring three goals.

Giraud scored a memorable opener for Town in the Blyth derby on Easter Monday: a game they would go on to win 2-0.

Still, it was not enough to prevent the club from being relegated from the NPL East Division after they endured a three-game winless run to finish the campaign.

French forward Giraud boasts plenty of experience in the north-east non-league scene, having previously played for Morpeth Town, Bishop Auckland, Blyth Spartans, Ashington, Consett, Newcastle Benfield and Thornaby.

Before moving to the UK, he played for Châteauroux in the French third division.

On the move, manager Dean Nicholson said: “I’m absolutely delighted with this signing. Cyril is a player who has been a huge influence on the non-league scene in the north-east for a long time and we know his quality.

"I’m sure the Stan Army will be buzzing with this one."

It has been a busy week for Stan, who finished seventh in the East Division last season.

The club announced the arrival of striker Mackenzie Sharpe and midfielder Cameron Gascoigne on Tuesday - a day prior to Giraud's unveiling - and have since brought in midfielder Mechack Kanda from Whitley Bay and young forward Kane Morris.