The 25 year-old central defender looked all set for a move to newly promoted Barnsley after agreeing a two year deal with them last week but Steve Cotterill has moved in to secure a two year deal for the Warrington born former England schoolboy international.
It has all come about because of Steve Cotterill's search for a right back but he said today: βI have been looking around to try to find a right back. I have been in
βIt's all been to no avail because they are no better than I've already got. Therefore, we have had to go down the route of another central defender to be able to shuffle our back four around a little. With Duane Courtney on the transfer list we are down to five defenders and if two of them were to get injured we have a problem.
Stephen is a free transfer, but more than that he's a proven defender, a good lad with excellent character. He is an honest boy and I really think he will do well for us. Whenever we played
Foster has played his entire career to date for Dario G's boys and made his debut for them in a game against Bury in 1998, when both clubs were playing at what is now Championship level.
He's been a regular in the side for the last six years and has played in over 200 league games for the Alex. His performances during the 2003/04 season won him the Players' Player of the Year Award at
Dario G offered him a new deal but was resigned to losing the player, realising that he would want to continue his career at a higher level, and he's decided to do that with the Clarets.