Brentford manager Terry Butcher has added some firepower to his threadbare squad of 17 with this week's capture of strikers Lee Thorpe from Torquay United and Alan Connell from Hereford United, alongside Walsall utility man Craig Pead.

The trio have joined on two-year contracts as replacements for Lloyd Owusu, Jo Kuffour and possibly ex-skipper Kevin O'Connor, who could follow his former deputy Andy Frampton out of Griffin Park should the Bees receive a suitable offer.

Thorpe has played for Blackpool, Leyton Orient, Grimsby, Bristol Rovers, Peterborough, Swansea, Lincoln City and Bangor City.

His best spell was at Lincoln, where he scored 57 goals in 183 starts between 1997 and 2002. In all, he has hit 88 goals in 324 league appearances.

He spent last season at Torquay, scoring eight league goals in 39 appearances for a struggling side relegated to the Conference.

The 31-year-old said: "I've been in the lower leagues all my career and know what to expect. It's very physical in League Two.

"I'm the oldest player at Brentford and can help the youngsters develop."

Connell, Hereford's leading marksman last season, has previously had spells with Ipswich, Bournemouth and Torquay.

The 24-year-old Enfield-born forward scored 10 goals for the Bulls last season in all competitions and his career goals tally is 28.

He was offered a new contact at Edgar Street, but turned it down in to sign for the Bees, having been impressed by the passion of Butcher and his assistant Andy Scott.

"I had a good year at Hereford, but wanted to get back to London," he added.

Pead, a 25-year-old defender/midfielder, was released by the Saddlers after helping them win the League Two title last season, playing 41 games and being selected for the PFA League Two team of the year. He has also made 42 appearances for Coventry City, and had a loan spell at Notts County before joining Walsall in March 2005.

Pead said: "I came down to Brentford last week and was impressed. There's a good atmosphere and a good set of lads."

Of the possibility that O'Connor, Paul Brooker or Matt Heywood could be off-loaded to cut costs, Scott said: "When Frampton and O'Connor signed new deals last season they were outside the current wage structure, which has been cut following our relegation.

"But O'Connor is still part of our squad, as are Brooker and Heywood."

Butcher believes his three latest signings can inspire a promotion challenge.

He said: "The new men are key pieces as we put together a jigsaw.

"Lee is an aggressive, experienced striker who gives defences a lot to think about.

"Alan learned his trade at my old club, Ipswich, and is another striker with a physical presence. And Pead has done it all before by playing a key role in Walsall's title-winning campaign."