PROLIFIC striker Jamie Cureton is on the verge of becoming Cheltenham Town's first new signing of the summer.
One of the most feared marksmen in the Football League, the 37-year-old has netted 247 career goals in 714 competitive appearances for 11 different English clubs along with a brief spell in South Korean football.
He scored 21 times last season, second only to Port Vale's Tom Pope in the League Two scoring charts, and he is now second only to 39-year-old Kevin Phillips in the list of active scorers in the English game.
The Echo understands that having confirmed he would be leaving Exeter City, Cureton was keen on a move closer to his Bristol home and he has agreed personal terms with Robins boss Mark Yates.
Former England youth international Cureton started his career at Norwich City, scoring his first senior goal 13 seconds after coming on as substitute against Chelsea in the Premier League on December 10, 1994.
He endeared himself to Canaries fans by dying his hair green for a clash with arch-rivals Ipswich Town.
Bristol Rovers paid £200,000 to sign him in October 1996 and he enjoyed four prolific seasons with his home club, partnering the likes of Barry Hayles, Peter Beadle, Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts in attack.
He joined Reading for £250,000 in 2000 and he scored in the Royals' 2001 Division Two (League One) play-off final defeat by Walsall at the Millennium Stadium, striking up an effective partnership with Martin Butler.
He spent half a season with South Korean side Busan Icons, but he returned to England for spells with QPR, Swindon Town, Colchester United and a second stint with Norwich.
He was loaned to Shrewsbury Town and Barnsley before two spells at Exeter either side of a year at Leyton Orient, where his wages were funded by one of the London club's sponsors.
Cureton played against Cheltenham for Exeter at St James Park in April, causing major problems for the Robins' back four with his intelligent movement and considerable speed, which he still retains despite his advancing years.
