YORK City have signed Port Vale defender Joe Davis and Rotherham United winger Alex Bray on loan ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup first round match at Swindon Town.

The two deals have now been confirmed by the club, while National League North rivals Kidderminster Harriers have likewise announced the signing of Minstermen midfielder Russell Penn - all as predicted on The Press website.

City boss Sam Collins has expressed his delight at the two new captures - and says the club are continuing to chase other transfer targets too. 

"The key thing is both want to come here and want to do well," he said. "We want that hunger to get better and help the team get better."

On potential further incomings, he added: "We are trying and asking quite a lot of questions and hoping that we are going to get some good news over the next couple of days."

Davis, 24, has made 52 appearances for the Valiants but has not featured for their first team this season.

The centre-half came through Port Vale's youth system before leaving for Leicester City in the summer of 2014. After a spell at Fleetwood Town he returned to Vale Park in 2017, but has since slipped down the pecking order at the League Two club and joins National League North outfit York eager for first-team action.

Collins - who played 149 games for Port Vale after signing there in 2002 - said: "I have known Joe a long time and the opportunity has come up to bring him in and strengthen in an area where I think it would do us good.

"He is honest, he competes, he is a good organiser, and really comfortable in possession. The way we want to try and play, I am sure he will be a big positive. He also fits the 'profile' as younger - we want to get the balance right - and he is really keen to do well."

Bray, 23, was in Swindon's youth system before joining Swansea City's academy aged 15 and later penning pro terms.

The former Wales Under-19s international joined Championship team Rotherham United in January 2017, initially on loan, but, having struggled to get into the first-team frame, he played out the second half of last season on loan at Forest Green Rovers, scoring one goal in 11 League Two appearances.

Collins said: "He is really keen to play games and get his career going again. He can play off both sides which will give us good balance." 

Meanwhile, Kidderminster have confirmed that Penn has now returned to Aggborough on a free transfer from City.

A statement on the Kidderminster website said: "Russ Penn has signed an 18-month deal and goes straight into the squad for Saturday’s trip to Nuneaton Borough in National League North.

"Russ, who turned 33 yesterday, began his senior career with Harriers in 2005 after leaving Scunthorpe where he’d been a youth prospect. He went on to make 178 appearances for the Reds in squads that hovered around the National League play-off spots and reached Wembley in the FA Trophy Final of 2007 before departing two years later.

"Since then, he’s gone on to feature extensively for the likes of Cheltenham Town, Burton Albion and York City to name a few, but has now returned to Worcestershire to aid a Harriers squad looking to make an impression in National League North."

Penn has had two spells at York. He made 109 appearances between 2014 and 2016, helping the club qualify for the League Two promotion play-offs in 2014.

Spells at Carlisle, Wrexham and Gateshead followed before the former Minstermen captain returned to Bootham Crescent in May this year. He made 12 appearances this term, and was named The Press Player of the Month for October.

Kidderminster currently sit fourth in National League North, with York 15th.