Barnet made it two signings in 24 hours when they swooped to capture defender Ian Hendon from Peterborough United yesterday afternoon (May 14).

The former Sheffield Wednesday player was on loan at Underhill this season. He joins Guy Lopez on the Bees' books, after the 23-year-old midfielder signed for the club on Tuesday.

Bees manager Martin Allen beat off stiff competition from several League clubs to land 32-year-old Hendon, while the player himself said he turned down the offer of a new contract with Posh to return to Underhill.

Hendon, who will be the club's new captain, said: "I know Martin Allen, I know the boys and I enjoyed my time here."

The return of Hendon made the backroom staff at Underhill smile, as the player had requested a Barnet shirt to remind him of his time at Underhill after his loan expired in February.

The club confirmed he had received two shirts (home and away) as his signing-on fee.

Hendon made five appearances for the Bees in his loan spell, scoring a goal in January's 2-1 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers.

He signed a one-year contract and is hoping to add to his 467 League appearances by helping Barnet win promotion next season.

Allen said: "I have been talking to Ian for a couple of weeks and have been up to see him a couple of times at Peterborough, where he was the captain.

"It was a signing I was keeping my fingers crossed would happen. He rang me at home on Tuesday night, which I thought was very important, and said he wanted to come to Barnet.

"He did very well when he played here on loan and I am hoping the supporters, who have seen a lot of players leave, appreciate the quality signing we have made.

"It has been a good couple of days with Guy Lopez signing and now, following on from that, we have a team captain and a leader on the pitch."

Frenchman Lopez also signed a one-year deal after impressing Allen during the team's final few Conference fixtures of the last campaign.

He joined the club from French side Xevallais Sporting Club (a non-league team from the outskirts of Paris) after asking former boss Peter Shreeves for a trial earlier this year.

A former youth worker in Paris, Lopez said he was delighted to commit himself to the club: "Since the Woking game, I feel I have built up a rapport with the fans, and I hope next season we will play in the play-offs and go as high as we can."