Gaia and Hurren sign for Crawley

Santos Gaia will link up with former Halifax team-mate Adam Quinn

Crawley Town have become the latest team to benefit from Weymouth's financial plight, signing Brazil-born centre-half Santos Gaia.

And Red Devils boss Steve Evans has made it a double signing by bringing in Gavin Hurren from Mansfield Town.

Gaia, 30, and fellow defender Hurren, 23, are available to make their debut in Saturday's trip to Cambridge United.

Hurren almost signed for Crawley in the summer, before opting instead to join the Field Mill side.

Gaia first arrived in English football with Exeter City in the summer of 2002 and was in the Grecians side that was relegated nine months later.

He made 140 appearances for Exeter City, mostly in the Conference. And he has played for three other Blue Square Premier sides: Stevenage Borough, Grays Athletic and Halifax Town.

He then pitched up at Weymouth this summer, having lucklessly been involved in another off-field drama when Halifax went into liquidation and were relegated two divisions.

Gavin Hurren could have become a Crawley player last summer

Hurren's arrival at the Broadfield Stadium has also been far from smooth.

After being let go as a teenager by Gary Megson at Nottingham Forest, Hurren spent three seasons at Kidderminster Harriers.

He also spent time on loan at Bromsgrove Rovers and King's Lynn during his time at Aggborough. But, following his release from the Harriers this summer, he signed for Mansfield, only to be transfer-listed by new Stags boss David Holdsworth in January.