Motherwell land defender Charles Dunne

Motherwell have signed former Blackpool and Oldham defender Charles Dunne and will run the rule over more players in the coming days.

Versatile left-sided defender Dunne has signed a one-year contract after leaving the Latics, where he worked under Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson.

And French defenders Cedric Kipre, a 20-year-old former Leicester player, and Bira Dembele, a 29-year-old former Barnet and under-21 international, could feature as trialists in a friendly at Stirling on Saturday alongside former Barnsley striker Shaun Tuton.

Motherwell are also understood to have made an enquiry about Peterborough striker Shaq Coulthirst, although any move would depend on other forwards leaving.

Dunne is Robinson's seventh signing and the 24-year-old is looking to bounce back from a long spell out last season with a pelvic problem. A leg break disrupted his time at Blackpool, where he was a regular in the Championship following a big-money move from Wycombe.

But the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international proved his fitness during a training camp near Dublin.

Robinson said: "We haven't seen the best of him yet as he's had a bit of a stop-start time with injury and he just needs to play football, so we are delighted to have him.

"He's strong, quick and good in the air. He's definitely getting back to that form and he just needs someone to believe in him.

"I do need another right-sided centre-back/right-back, so we'll assess them after the games.''

Meanwhile, Robinson has labelled Hearts' bid for Chris Cadden as a joke. Motherwell threw out an offer two weeks ago and Robinson was frustrated to have to discuss the bid with the Scotland Under-21 midfielder.

"The offer that was made was verging on laughable for someone of Chris's talent,'' he said.

"When a boy can walk out of a club when his contract runs out for £600,000 compensation, the offer of a hundred grand... let's just say we will move on very quickly because it won't be something I will consider.

"It's football, isn't it? The other teams will try to get your players for as cheap as they can and we will try and sell them for as much as we can.

"But it doesn't warrant a discussion. Chris is a big, big part of our plans. He is one of the best young players in Scotland and there will be interest in him, no doubt.

"And Chris's time will come when he will probably leave but it won't be for that kind of money and it won't be at this time.''

Robinson added: "The one thing I said to the players when I came in was that they will get honesty from me. I speak to managers all the time when we mention players but when there has been an official bid, of course you have got to sit down and tell players. And it does turn their head, no matter what.

"I have had the conversation with Chris but he is such a grounded young man that it wouldn't be a problem for him.

"Chris isn't someone who is wanting to leave the club and race away anywhere else. His development is here, he will get better and better at our place.

"But it is a little bit frustrating when some of the perceived bigger clubs think they can come in and unsettle your players.'

• superscoreboard