Workington Reds boss Danny Grainger has added former Queen of the South player Owen Bell to his midfield options.

The defensive midfielder, 20, will meet his new team-mates when pre-season training gets under way this week.

Bell spent his junior days with the Lochar Thistle youth set-up before linking up with hometown club Queens, eventually making his debut for their first-team two and a half years ago.

Last season, he played for Queens for the first-half of the campaign before joining Lowland League side East Kilbride on loan.

Owen played against Reds in a pre-season game at Borough Park three years ago.

Grainger, who will be entering his first season as Reds’ manager after leaving Carlisle United and retiring from professional football in May, was happy to have recruited another talented youngster to blend with the more experienced players in the squad.

He has already re-signed Sam Smith, Conor Tinnion, Kieran Maguire, David Symington, Scott Allison, Josh Calvert and Brad Carroll from last season’s squad, as well as bringing back Nathan Waterston and Alex Mitchell after their spells with Barrow and Annan Athletic respectively.

Jim Atkinson is a new face in the goalkeeping department, while Reds youngster Luke Ivison will be returning and three former Carlisle United youth prospects – Liam Brockbank, Ceiran Casson and Jay Kelly – have joined the club.

Meanwhile, Reds’ players will bear the logo of a major sports pitch manufacturer on their shirts next season.

SIS Pitches, which is based in Maryport, won the club’s draw to select the new shirt sponsor on Friday.

The company designed, constructed and installed SIS-Grass hybrid pitches at six football World Cup venues in Russia last year.