WORCESTER City manager John Barton has bolstered his under-performing midfield with the capture of Tamworth's David Foy and Burton Albion's Pat Lyons.

Barton described the signings as a big boost for the club and signalled his ambition to bring in more quality players this summer.

Both players have arrived from successful clubs.

Lyons came from Unibond Premier champions Burton, while Foy, who scored with a 30-yard free kick against City earlier in the season, was a member of Gary Mills' Tamworth team that was narrowly pipped for the Dr Martens Premier Division title by Kettering Town.

Foy, aged 29, has Football League experience with Birmingham and Scunthorpe and after seven years at Tamworth, leapt at the chance to join Worcester under the Bosman ruling.

"I needed a fresh challenge but didn't want to move to a smaller club and always felt Worcester had the potential to be bigger than Tamworth," he said.

"Although it is an old ground, when I've played here it has the feel of a league crowd and has the stature of being a big club."

For Lyons, 24, who was not retained by Brewers' boss Nigel Clough, it is the second time he has been signed by Barton who brought him to Burton from Derby at 19.

"Burton had a brilliant season last year but with the club going up I felt it was the right time to move and I think John is building something here and I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

Barton said: "They will provide something in midfield, an area that we feel we have been sadly lacking in.

"They are players that I'm sure supporters will enjoy in the style and way they play the game and in an area of the pitch where we have under-performed.

"Hopefully it is the start of one or two more players coming into the club and the signings give everyone connected with the club a boost very early on in the close season.

"I would like to think it is a statement of our intent and ambition."