Albion were today making Bristol Rovers rightback Robbie Pethick their fourth signing of the summer.

Pethick was putting pen to paper on a Bosman free transfer move from relegated Rovers, subject to a medical.

Manager Micky Adams has swooped for the dependable defender to provide cover and competition for Paul Watson.

"Robbie is a quick and experienced rightback," said Adams. "He has played in the First Division at Portsmouth, so he is a good acquisition for us."

Pethick, born in Tavistock, made a jump from non-League football with Weymouth to the First Division with Portsmouth when Pompey bought him for £30,000 in October 1993.

The 30-year-old became a regular in a right wingback role at Fratton Park.

He made 189 League appearances in five seasons before a £15,000 switch to Rovers in February 1999.

The tough-tackling Pethick was virtually an ever-present in his first full season at The Memorial Stadium as long-time pacesetters Rovers eventually missed out on a place in the Second Division play-offs.

They went down last season, when Pethick was restricted to approximately 20 appearances in all competitions.

He becomes the third former Bristol Rovers player in Adams' squad, teaming up again with hotshot Bobby Zamora and goalkeeper Michel Kuipers.

Pethick plus fellow close season captures Geoff Pitcher, Simon Morgan and Dirk Lehmann report back with their new colleagues for pre-season training on Thursday.

They will not now be joined by out-of-favour Reading midfielder Neil Smith. Adams today described his move for the player he signed when he was in charge at Fulham as a "dead deal."

Former Liverpool manager Joe Fagan has died following an illness at the age of 80.

Fagan, the last of the Anfield club's infamous 'bootroom boys' to take charge of the first team following the retirement of Bob Paisley, led Liverpool to an unprecedented Treble in 1984 of Championship, League Cup and European Cup.