Lewes believe they have signed two gems after snapping up Eastbourne Borough pair Ollie Rowe and Sam Cole.

The Rooks’ management team of Garry Wilson and Danny Bloor swooped for the pair following their release at Priory Lane.

Rowe and Cole were among three players not offered new deals by Borough at the end of the season and Lewes moved quickly to secure their signatures.

Both played under Wilson during his time at Borough, Rowe also had a spell under Bloor at Eastbourne Town and left-back Cole spent a month on loan at Lewes last season.

The versatile Rowe also had a previous spell at the Dripping Pan, playing five games at the beginning of the 2010-11 season.

Bloor believes the fact the pair are familiar with how he and Wilson work was important in bringing them in.

He said: “They have both played for Garry and I before. They are both local lads and they really are the type of players we want to be signing for Lewes Football Club.

“Sam Cole was on loan with us for a month last season from Eastbourne Borough and he did well for us.

“Ollie Rowe can play right-back or centre-back and he will really strengthen us in that area.

“I had Ollie at Eastbourne Town and both of them played for Garry at Borough. They are players who know what Garry and I are about.

“When it wasn’t to be for them at Eastbourne Borough they were keen to come and join us. They both have a great attitude.”

Previously captain at Priory Lane, Rowe started only 14 games for Borough last season and spent much of the campaign on the substitutes’ bench.

Cole was a peripheral figure at the start of the campaign before joining Lewes on loan in November, playing eight games before returning to Borough where he featured more regularly in the second half of the campaign.