Yeovil Town clinch Russell signing and chase a striker

Yeovil Town have filled the void left in midfield by Shaun MacDonald's return to Swansea City and Jean Paul Kalala's impending suspension by snapping up experienced midfield playmaker Alex Russell from Bath City.

The 37-year-old former Bristol City, Cheltenham and Exeter City man has agreed a deal for the remainder of the season and is manager Terry Skiverton's fifth signing of the January transfer window.

Russell has played a pivotal role in helping the Romans pull clear of the relegation zone in the Blue Square Bet Premier and with a wealth of first team appearances under his belt, he brings a vast amount of experience to the Glovers' young squad.

"I am looking forward to him coming in. Alex was here to watch us against MK Dons and he will be available for Saturday," Skiverton said.

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Kalala will miss Yeovil's next four matches having picked up his second red card of the season for hitting out at former Glover Michael McIndoe in Monday's 1-0 victory over MK Dons. He could also be without defender-cum-midfielder Luke Ayling, who suffered a broken nose in the same game.

Skiverton also hopes to have added an experienced striker by the time his side take on Brentford at Huish Park on Saturday, but he refused to name his top target – although he did let slip that the player concerned is a target man that would come straight into the team.

"Until it's all done and he's played his first game you can't count your chickens," Skiverton said.

"The ones you've got your eye on are always the ones other people have their eye on. We hope we can get him in, get it done and get him signed.

"When you look at our bench, you realise they are real youngsters there. I am willing to use Craig Calver, Billy Gibson has been used and Ed Upson, who has been involved, but that is why we need to bring in more people because we need to make sure the squad is fighting and if there are any injuries and suspensions, which we have now got, we will have people ready to step in."

Yeovil's new arrivals will compensate for the loss of MacDonald and Sullivan, who have returned to Swansea City and Millwall respectively after their loan arrangements came to an end.

MacDonald leaves having enjoyed four different loan spells with the club in which he racked up 51 appearances, scoring five goals, while Sullivan made 15 appearances. Tom Parkes has also left the club and returned to Leicester with injury curtailing his short loan stint with Yeovil.

"I wish Shaun and John all the best. I think the pair of them have been exemplary in the way they have conducted themselves and they have been a real credit to their host clubs," Skiverton said.

"When you have people like that, who are fighting for the cause, it makes my job a little bit easier and they are very good players and very good people as well and that is the most important thing to me."

Yeovil have also completed the loan signing of goalkeeper Stephen Henderson from Bristol City, who will remain at Huish Park for the remainder of the season.

The deal had been expected to go through for a number of days now and it was confirmed on the Glovers' website yesterday.

The 22-year-old, who enjoyed a short stint in Somerset earlier in the season making eight appearances, will take over as the regular number one from Sullivan and the former Aston Villa youngster will face competition for the jersey from Richard Martin, who rejoined the club on a free transfer from Crawley Town earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the Glovers have parted company with physiotherapist Simon Baker, who has left the club to spend more time with his family.

Baker, who played for Yeovil's youth and reserve team, joined the staff at Huish Park in the summer of 2009 having struck up a friendship with first-team coach Darren Way, whom he helped rehabilitate following Way's career-ending car accident in December 2008.