Gary Breen celebrated his 35th birthday today by signing a contract with Barnet as player-coach at least until the end of the season.

Breen, who has been training with the Bees squad for the past fortnight, has linked up with the managerial team of Paul Fairclough, Ian Hendon, Mark Stein and Lee Harrison.

The experienced former Republic of Ireland central defender will not play against Gillingham - one of his eight former clubs - at Underhill tomorrow as he wants to reach peak fitness before making his debut.

Breen's last club was Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he was captain and again an able lieutenant to manager Mick McCarthy, his "gaffer" with the Republic and Sunderland as well as Wolves.

Breen, whose parents live in Barnet, has twice been to Underhill this season as a spectator to watch the Bees.

The Hendon-born Breen has made more than 500 League and Cup appearances since starting at Charlton Athletic as a youngster - with Maidstone United, Gillingham (51 appearances), Peterborough United, Birmingham City, Coventry City, West Ham United, Sunderland and Wolves.

Peterborough paid £70,000 for the 6ft 1ins tall Breen and both Birmingham and Coventry £250,000.

Breen made 63 appearances for the Republic and played every moment of the 2002 World Cup campaign, scoring in the first game.

The Irish fans used to sing "A team of Gary Breens" to the tune of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine", going through the team numbers 1 to 11. The chorus line was "We all dream of a team of Gary Breens".

Paul Fairclough said: "He brings to us everything we have been lacking on the field ... real leadership, experience, organbisational skills and a presence".

Let's hope that the Underhill songsters reintroduce the Gary Breen chorus to the League 2 scene.

Dennis Signy