By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Former Newcastle Reserve team skipper Jeff Henderson has joined League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers following his summer release from United.

The 20-year-old from Ashington regularly captained the second-string under Willie Donachie and Peter Beardsley over the last two seasons, while he was named on the bench for last year's Carling Cup win over Nottingham Forest.

He spent time on loan with Gateshead last season and impressed during a trial with Sligo, who have agreed a contract until the end of 2013 with the centre-back who had been with the Magpies since he was 13 years old.

Sligo manager Ian Baraclough told his club's official website: "When I was working with Watford last year I watched a lot of games and Jeff was one player I saw.

"There were clubs in League One in England interested but there was a lot of work done by Sligo Rovers to get him here."

And Henderson said: "It feels good to sign. I think that I'm coming to a great club that is doing very well in a lot of competitions and I want to help continue that.

"It is a big change for me. Newcastle was my boyhood team and I spent my entire career there really. But I feel this is a great move. It is the change that I need and I can't wait to get started."