Club confirm arrival of defender and winger
The Hatters are pleased to announce the signings of Southport duo Shaun Whalley and Andrew Parry for undisclosed fees.
Both midfielder Whalley and defender Parry have penned two-year contracts at Kenilworth Road which will commence on 1st July.
Winger Whalley, 25, will join the Hatters having picked up a host of end-of-season awards whilst with the Sandgrounders, including Player of the Year.
The Prescot-born attacker can also play as a striker and has scored 10 times for Southport this season and set-up many more from his position on the right-flank.
Whalley began his career as a youngster with Southport before he started his professional career with Chester in 2004. A number of spells with clubs in the North West, including Wrexham and Accrington followed and, whilst with Droylsden, he scored 15 times in 32 Conference North appearances.
Shaun in full flight for the Sandgrounders
He signed for Southport in January 2011 and scored twice on his debut in a 4-0 win over York City, and has gone onto become a mainstay in the Sandgrounders’ squad ever since, scoring an impressive 27 goals in 98 league games from midfield.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Parry – who can also operate in the centre of midfield or at right-back has been the Sandgrounders’ central defensive lynchpin since arriving at the Merseryrail Community Stadium from Blackburn Rovers in November 2011.
An accomplished centre-half, Parry has made 62 appearances in the Blue Square Bet Premier for Southport and scored twice – one of which came against the Hatters at Kenilworth Road back in September.
Andrew in action for Southport this season
On his new arrivals, Town boss John Still told lutontown.co.uk: “I’ve seen them play whilst I was with my former club and I’ve spoke to Liam Watson [the former Southport manager] at length about them both.
“I know Shaun and Andrew well and have kept tabs on them throughout the course of this season. The reports I’ve had back have been glowing.
“I sat down and had a chat with them to find out their character, and what struck me about them is their attitude and ambition.
“Shaun is a winger who likes to attack, run into the box and score and create goals. He’s got pace and is clever with the ball and I could see him playing in a role just off the striker, just like Alex Lawless did for us towards the end of the season.
“Andrew can play centre-half, right-back and in central midfield, and since I’ve been at Luton he’s played in all three positions so we know what strings he’s got to his bow.
“He’s decent in all those positions but I see him very much as a centre-half. He’s a young man that is open to a lot of improvement – as is Shaun.
“Both players are good ages and both deals are very sensible.
“We were by no means the only club interested and I am positive that Shaun and Andrew can go on to enjoy great success with us.”