​Dave Gilroy will return to Bath City on Monday after the club agreed a six-week 'loan swap' with Blue Square South leaders Newport County.

As part of the agreement, fellow striker Stuart Douglas will head to Spytty Park for the same period of time.

Gilroy left City in the summer after finishing as top scorer in each of his two seasons at Twerton Park. He has plundered 50 goals in 98 games for the club.

However, he has found his opportunities limited at Newport, where Blue Square South's top scorer Craig Reid and ex-City loan star Sam Foley are the preferred pairing up front.

Seven of Gilroy's nine league goals this term came while he was on loan at Weston-super-Mare in October and November.

The deal, which was struck yesterday, is subject to international clearance, meaning Gilroy will not return to City colours until Tuesday night’s home game with Havant & Waterlooville (7.45pm) at the earliest.

City boss Adie Britton said: “It’ll be finalised on Monday. We’ll review the situation after the six weeks, which are up before the transfer deadline.

“Me and (Newport manager) Dean Holdsworth speak quite regularly and this week he mentioned Dave and asked whether I fancied doing this loan swap.

“I had 24 hours to think about it and then spoke to Dave. The two players concerned agreed to it very quickly.”

Despite Gilroy’s prolific record at City, Britton hinted more than once last term that he had not been happy with his workrate.

That led to talk of a rift between the two men, with Gilroy’s decision to defect to Newport at the end of the campaign doing little to quash speculation on the terraces.

“The rumour was that we’d fallen out but I don’t know where it came from because it’s not true,” insisted Britton.

“We’ve kept in regular contact since he left and obviously we talk about football. He let it be known some time ago that he’d like to come back.

“The two front players have done exceptionally well for us this season. Darren (Edwards) has been a revelation and Kaid (Mohamed) has got better and better.

“Dave knows he is swapping the bench at Newport for the bench here. I’ve explained what I want from him and if, when the opportunity arises, he works hard for the team and scores goals it will be a bonus.”

Douglas, meanwhile, has endured an injury-hit second season with City, making only three league starts.

He enjoyed his finest hour in a City shirt at Newport on March 18 last year, scoring a hat-trick in a stunning 4-0 victory. County have only lost once in the league since that night.

Britton said: “People say he’s not good enough but the coaching staff and players at the club all know he is a really top-notch player.

“If you asked any centre-half in the league which players they don’t want to face, he’d be high on that list. When he hits them, he hurts them. He’s such a strong boy.

“With his neck injury, then his illness, he simply hasn’t been fit this season. If he can go there and come back to us fit and ready, then great. He is a good player and a decent lad.”

Meanwhile, City confirmed today that ex-St Albans midfielder Hector Mackie has signed non-contract forms with the club and goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s game at Maidenhead United (3pm).