Stone Signs Two-Year Deal

Stone has agreed a two-year deal after joining on a free transfer. The 33-year-old has spent just three of his 17 years of professional football outside of the top flight, and has won promotion on each occasion.

The Gateshead-born midfielder won the championship twice with Nottingham Forest and promotion with Portsmouth in 2003.

Stone will fill the right-sided midfield role and player is believed to have turned down a more lucrative offer from Crystal Palace, while Southampton were also showing interest. West Ham also came in yesterday in the hope of persuading Stone to head back down south.