PAOLO Di Canio completed something of a coup yesterday with the capture of Leon Clarke on a two-year contract, and could bolster his attacking options further with another key signing next week.

Clarke opted to drop from the Premier League to League Two after having his contract terminated at QPR yesterday afternoon, becoming Di Canio’s 14th signing of the summer after Spanish winger Lander Gabilondo also joined earlier in the day.

Di Canio had publically spoke with Clarke after the defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday, indicating that a move was imminent, but the takeover of QPR on Thursday resulted in a level of uncertainty over whether the move would be a loan or permanent one.

But things gathered pace yesterday before Clarke finally put pen to paper on a two-year deal and will now compete with Alan Connell, Raffa De Vita, Billy Bodin and Mehdi Kerrouche for a place in the Town attack.

“The situation was that we were not certain whether it would be a transfer or a loan deal,” interim chairman Jeremy Wray explained to the Advertiser.

“(QPR boss) Neil Warnock was hugely helpful with keeping us updated with the situation at QPR during the takeover and as soon as there was a chance we could work something out he let us know, before other clubs showed interest.

“It is very exciting to bring a player like Clarke to the club. It is definitely a coup. He was looking for regular football and that is what we can offer him.

“A lot of players in the Premier League are happy to sit around in the reserves so it is refreshing to have a player with Clarke’s attitude.

“He was under contract at QPR but was not going to get regular football and he has come to a level where he can play regularly and score goals.”

Interest in Clarke appears to have emerged before the start of the season, with Clarke present at the League Two opener against Crewe.

And Wray believes that the prospect of playing at the County Ground played a big part in convincing Clarke that a move to SN1 would be the right one.

“I am pleased that Leon saw the Crewe game at the County Ground, because I truly believe the County Ground factor had a big part in him deciding to come,” he added.

“If he had only seen the Dagenham & Redbridge game it may have been more difficult, but the County Ground experience had a big impact on him.”

Clarke is certainly a significant addition to the Town squad but the Advertiser understands that Di Canio is not yet finished in the transfer market, with another striker believed to be set for a medical at the County Ground next week.