MANAGER Andy Thomas is delighted to have secured the return of Glenn Rule to the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.

The 27-year-old midfielder has put pen to paper on a deal, 18 months after leaving the Wingmakers to join Stockport County in the National League North.

The Hatters paid an undisclosed fee for Rule whose season was cut short by injury and a 10-match FA ban for allegedly biting an opponent during a match against Stalybridge Celtic, limiting him to 21 appearances.

But he went on to win the goal of the season award for a stunning volley at Nuneaton early in the campaign.

A product of the youth academy at Chester City where he made some 28 appearances after making his debut as a substitute against Carlisle United in October 2007 as a 17-year old, Rule then had a brief spell at Colwyn Bay before joining Stalybridge for 2010/11, moving to Airbus in May 2011. 

During his four-year spell with the Wingmakers, Rule scored 12 goals from 89 (+15) Welsh Premier League appearances and also played four times in the Europa League.