ADY Pennock says Barrow AFC have landed a goalkeeper 'hungry to do well' after signing Steve Arnold.

The 28-year-old has joined the Bluebirds on a contract until the end of next season, following his release by Gillingham earlier this month.

Pennock managed Arnold at Forest Green Rovers, where the former Arsenal and Norwich City youth made 45 appearances, helping them to the National League play-off semi-finals in 2014/15 and the final a year later.

And the Barrow boss is confident that the new recruit is determined to do well with his new club.

“He's a very good goalkeeper, more than anything else,” said Pennock. “He's got great experience – he's played at this level and he's played in the Football League – he's a very good professional, and he's very hungry to do well.”

Arnold left League One Gillingham – Pennock’s former club – by mutual consent this month, having played for the Gills only twice this season, both times in the Checkatrade Trophy.

He had moved to Priestfield from Dover Athletic in the summer – having played against Barrow for both Dover and Forest Green, as well as Grays Athletic in 2009 and Hayes and Yeading in 2011 – with his previous clubs also including Eastleigh, Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage Borough.

The former England C international is well-known to his new boss, who feels their relationship helped in the move going through.

“Because I know him very well, I'm not signing him blind – which I wouldn't do anyway,” added Pennock. “He's somebody I know very well; I worked with him at Forest Green and I took him to Gillingham as well.

“I'm very, very pleased to have him here, and I want to thank Andrew and Paul for getting him in.”

Arnold trained with the Barrow squad for the first time on Thursday, and is available for tomorrow's match at Guiseley.

He becomes the third keeper on the books at AFC, along with Joel Dixon and Stuart Moore.

Moore started the season as first-choice at Holker Street, having signed on under former manager Paul Cox – whom the Bluebirds will face as they travel to his new club Guiseley tomorrow – during the summer.

The ex-Luton Town stopper started the opening 11 matches of the season, before Dixon returned from injury and went on to feature in the next seven games.

Moore did return between the sticks for the first game after Pennock arrived – the 3-1 win over Aldershot in October – and kept his place for seven games, before Dixon became first-choice again in mid-December.

Moore has not played since the 1-0 loss to Dagenham and Redbridge on December 9, with Dixon the preferred option since then.