ELLIS DUNTON will not be returning to Australia until next year which frees him up to play for Cirencester Town again this season.

The uncompromising defender, who is also a regular match winner at set pieces, returned from a year Down Under and played for Cirencester Town in the run-in last term, scoring four goals in 11 games.

He has now played a total of 194 matches for the club.

“I applied for my permanent resident’s visa for Australia in February, and that can take between 12 and 15 months,” said Dunton, who has an Aussie girlfriend.

“I said to Charlie (Griffin) that if we were in or around the play-offs when my visa came through I would stay until the end of the season before going back to Oz.”

Griffin said: “We are over the moon that Ellis is going to be with us this season.”

The Town boss also confirmed that his first two expected signings of the close season are centre half Jordan Stoddart and goalkeeper Matt Wieczorek – both played for Bishops Cleeve last term.

“We watched Jordan a number of times last year. He’s a big lad, mid-20s, a good organiser, wins his headers and he gets goals from set pieces,” said Griffin.

“Again, we looked at Matt last season before Glyn Garner came back to the club.

“He’s big, has plenty of presence and goalkeeping coach Scott Rose was very impressed with him. He’s coming in as our number one keeper and will be a great addition to the squad.

“Both lads have been to have a look around the club.

“Our three Welsh lads – Glyn, Gethin Jones and Kerry Morgan - are not returning and it was important that we replaced such good players. I can't speak highly enough abut them.

“That trio never trained with us but with our new 3G pitch I think it is essential that we all train on it regularly to make it work to our advantage, and it would have been unreasonable to ask them to travel so far twice a week for training.

“The rest of the lads are back in training on Thursday, June 29 and the opening game of our pre-season schedule is away to Bradford-on-Avon on Saturday, July 8.”

Ben Brown and Dan Demkiv have been released by Griffin.