YORK City chief Terry Dolan today moved to plug growing defensive gaps by landing Scott Jones on a month's loan from Bristol Rovers.

The experienced 26-year-old can play at either left-back or centre-back and has been drafted straight into tonight's squad to face Lincoln City at Bootham Crescent.

With Mark Maley having returned to Sunderland, fellow full-back Neville Stamp still out with a hamstring injury and central defenders Gary Hobson and Chris Smith also on the sidelines, City manager Dolan has moved quickly to land Jones ahead of this Thursday's transfer deadline day.

Although Jones has been signed on a month's loan initially - the deal effectively lasting until the end of the season - the City chief has not ruled out signing the versatile defender permanently should he impress in the run-in.

Dolan, clearly delighted with his new acquisition, said: "The left-back spot is something I have been looking at for a while and this gives us a good opportunity to have a look at Scott between now and the end of the season.

"He fits the bill in a lot of respects because he can play at either full-back or centre-back and at 26-years-old he is also the right age."

Sheffield-born Jones started his career with Barnsley, making 83 appearances in total for the Tykes, including 12 during the Oakwell club's one year stint in the Premiership.

During Barnsley's season in the Premiership, Jones sprung to national prominence when he scored twice as the Tykes knocked Manchester United 3-2 out of the FA Cup in a fifth round replay.

He linked up with Bristol Rovers in September 2000 for a fee of around £200,000 and became a virtual ever-present in the Pirates side that was relegated from Division Two, scoring three goals.

However, this season his chances have been limited at the Memorial Ground with Jones, a former Yorkshire Schoolboys cricketer, having started just 18 League and cup games.

With the cash-strapped Pirates anxious to trim their wage-bill and cut-back on the size of their squad, Jones has been placed on the transfer-list despite having another year left on his current Rovers' deal.

Updated: 11:34 Tuesday, March 26, 2002