91Èȱ¬

Ex-Shrewsbury captain Matt Richards has joined Cheltenham on a two-year deal.

The 28-year-old midfielder was released by the Shrews in the summer after two years at Greenhous Meadow.

Richards started his career at Ipswich and enjoyed a loan spell at Brighton before joining Walsall, where he played between 2009 and 2011.

"I was looking for a specific type of player and we think we've got that in Matt," Robins manager Mark Yates told 91Èȱ¬ Gloucestershire.

"He's got a wealth of experience and helped Shrewsbury get out of this division.

"He scores goals from midfield and plays in a number of positions which, for a club like us, is important.

"We need some competition in the engine room and I think I've got that now."

Richards, who can also play left-back, has made 421 career appearances, scoring 36 goals, and played 45 games for League One Shrewsbury last season.