CHIPPENHAM Town have agreed to bring striker David Pratt back to the club next season.

The 28-year-old, who is infamously credited with the fastest-ever red card shown in English football, is set to return to Chippenham next season after three years with National League South Bath City, where he scored 50 times in 125 appearances.

Pratt, who began his senior career under Bluebirds boss Mark Collier at Swindon Supermarine, first arrived at Hardenhuish Park in 2007 and during his two years with Chippenham, he hit the headlines nationally for being sent off just three seconds into a Southern League Premier Division clash at Bashley for a two-footed lunge on the hosts’ Christopher Knowles.

At the time, Pratt’s dismissal was reported as the fastest in history but that honour is believed to belong to Lee Todd, who was sent off two seconds into a Scottish Sunday League game in 2000 for foul and abusive language as he commented on the volume of the referee’s whistle for kick-off.

Bluebirds manager Collier, whose side finished eighth in the table last term, five points outside of the play-offs, is delighted to have secured Pratt’s services and thinks the frontman, who has also had spells with Basingstoke Town and Maidenhead United, can be a driving force behind his side’s next promotion bid.

“It’s one that we’ve been working on for a little while but we’ve shaken hands and he’s agreed to join us next season,” said Collier.

“We’re really pleased to be able to bring in a striker of David Pratt’s quality. He was a bit of a fan favourite at Chippenham in the past and we were impressed with his commitment to come back and try and get us out of this league.

“We’ve been speaking to the players from last season and the majority of them have said that they’d like to come back but there are a few that we’re still waiting to talk to, with a couple that have gone away on holiday.

“But when a player like David Pratt becomes available, you have to bring him in.”

Meanwhile, Chippenham have also announced the signings of midfielder Nuno Felix and forward Solomon Wheatley from Paulton Rovers.