Consett have announced the signing of attacking midfielder Jake Orrell, who has just been released by Blyth Spartans.

The National League North side announced on Friday that the 22-year-old’s contract had been cancelled by mutual consent.  

Orrell is a player who has been on Consett’s radar for some time, and the club acted quickly to speak to him and agree terms once his availability was known. He went straight into the squad for the match against second-placed Stockton Town at the Coverall Stadium.

Orrell began his career at the Sunderland AFC Academy, before joining Gateshead in January 2015, and making six substitute appearances for them towards the end of the 2014-15 season.

A trial at Chesterfield earned him a professional contract, and he made two first-team appearances for the League One side before being loaned out to Matlock Town, and then joining Hartlepool United on a free transfer in June 2016.

After a spell with Spennymoor Town in the Northern Premier League, he joined Northern League club Newcastle Benfield in October 2017, and was a member of the side who were League Cup runners-up last season.

He signed for Blyth Spartans in the summer, and although he had featured regularly, appearing in 10 of their 13 games this season, the club said the decision to release him from his contract was agreed reluctantly, at the player’s request.

Manager Lee Clark said: “Jake came to see me about leaving. I was disappointed, but if anyone wants to play at a lower level then they have not got the ambition I want. I wish Jake all the best for his future career.”

Jake said: “There was only one choice of club for me on leaving Blyth, and that was Consett. They’re a great club with big ambition, and  can’t wait to get started.”