Blue Square Bet Premier club Gateshead have made their first two close season signings with manager Ian Bogie landing Jon Shaw at the second attempt and fellow striker Jonny Allan.
Shaw, 26, who joined Mansfield Town from Rochdale in January, has signed a two-year contact and Northwich Victoria favourite Allan, 27, a one-year deal.
Bogie first tried to sign Shaw during the January transfer window after the Yorkshireman had spent an injury ravaged one month loan spell at the International Stadium.
The former Sheffield Wednesday front man instead joined league rivals Mansfield Town where he scored three goals in six starts and eight substitute appearances.
Shaw initially played twenty games for home-town club Sheffield Wednesday in 2003/04 as a teenager before moving to Burton Albion where he played over a century of games.
A memorable Conference campaign at Halifax Town followed his departure from Burton during which time he scored twenty goals in thirty-seven appearances for the Shaymen during a memorable 2007/08 campaign.
That brought a move back into the Football League at Rochdale but his time at Spotland proved to be a frustrating one as he was limited to just seven appearances.
During his one-and-a-half years in Lancashire Shaw had successful loan spells at Conference national clubs Crawley Town, Barrow and Gateshead.
An England `C` international with six caps, Shaw is delighted that he has finally got his move to Gateshead.
"I thought I was joining Gateshead at the start of the year," said Shaw "unfortunately the deal fell through but it is great that I can now join what is an ambitious club.
"It has been a frustrating last couple of years as my move to Rochdale didn't work out and then I was played out of position at Mansfield for a lot of the time.
"I am in the best shape I've been in for some time and am fresh and raring to go and looking forward to relocating to Tyneside.
Bogie meanwhile is delighted to finally get his man.
"Jon Shaw is a big signing for this club. He was excellent in the one full game he played for us on loan and I was disappointed to miss out on him in the January transfer window," said Bogie.
"Mansfield manager David Holdsworth has been very accommodating in allowing him to move to the North East where he has family.
"He still had a year on his contract so it was very good of David and Mansfield to let him go on a free transfer and I thank them for their co-operation.
"Shaw will give us a physical presence up front. He is great in the air, at 26 is at the peak of his career and his stats and pedigree are impressive.
"We now have four experienced, top quality strikers, all of whom have played in the Football League, so there will be real competition for places."
Cumbrian Jonny Allan (pictured), meanwhile, began his career at the county`s only Football League club, Carlisle United, making twenty-nine appearances, including nineteen off the bench, between 2000-2002.
He then joined Northwich where he established himself as a fans` favourite over the next eight years at the Cheshire club where he played over 200 games.
With Northwich suffering a second successive demotion for financial irregularities Allan has severed his links with the club to ply his trade at Gateshead.
"I enjoyed my eight years at Northwich but off the field problems have made life difficult in recent times and the club have suffered two relegations not related to performances on the field..
"When Ian Bogie contacted me and I was immediately interested. It is great to be back in the Conference Premier and the facilities at Gateshead are excellent.
"It was time to move on and Gateshead is a new challenge that I am looking forward to - having four good strikers will keep us all on our toes and is just what we need.
Bogie believes Allan will make an impression at the International Stadium.
"He has been a tremendous servant to Northwich Victoria where he is revered by the supporters, and at 27, he is at a good age," said Bogie.
"He built up a good reputation at Northwich and with Allan, Shaw, Daryl Clare and Brian Wake at the club I will have four good forwards at my disposal."
