Chester FC joint-boss Anthony Johnson has expressed his delight after securing the double signing of defender Jon Moran and midfielder John Pritchard.

The duo have both signed one-year deals with the Blues, who are bidding to win promotion back to the National League at the first time of asking and link up with joint-managers Johnson and Bernard Morley, who monitored the progress of both players during their spell in charge of Salford City.

Moran, 21, is a centre-half who was released by Forest Green Rovers earlier this month after a two-year spell with the club. Moran came through Crewe’s academy and caught the eye for Nantwich Town in the Northern Premier League, earning him a move to Forest Green in June 2016.

Pritchard, 22, a set-piece specialist, is a left winger who helped Ashton United claim promotion to National League North last season, as they defeated Grantham Untied in the play-off final to secure promotion. He has previously had spells with Ramsbottom and Northwich Victoria.

“We’ve managed to sign two young, very talented and highly sought-after players,” Johnson said, as the Blues take their number of summer additions to half a dozen.

“They fit the profile of the sort of player a number of football clubs are looking to sign, they are under 23 and have great potential.

“They are hungry to prove themselves at this level having had knock-backs earlier in their career at higher clubs.

“They are both lads who myself and Bernard have been keen to sign for the best part of two years so to get them both to Chester, we’ve done really well in doing so.

“Once they knew of Chester’s interest, it was pretty much a case of when they could come in and get it signed. Like a few of our signings so far, it was a case of ‘when can I sign?’

“They both fit what we were looking for and are two very excited signings.”

The 34-year-old – part of the management duo who were appointed Marcus Bignot’s successors last month – was pleased to see both players sign on the dotted line, with Moran set to challenge for a place in the defence, while Pritchard is expected to form part of an attacking trio up front, with Johnson describing his ability at set-pieces as ‘unbelievable’.

“Jon is a young defender who we first saw when he was at Nantwich,” he continued.

“He moved to Forest Green and he’s been on our radar ever since. He was at Crewe as a youngster, so he’s been technically well-coached, and we hope we can now draw out his potential at Chester.

“John Pritchard is a left-sided midfielder from Ashton who helped them win promotion last season, with Dom Smalley.

“He’s another young, talented player who we hoped to get the best out of. He’s an unbelievable set-piece taker and he’ll be a real threat from dead-ball situations.”