Perrett, who has also played for Portsmouth, signed a three-year deal after a successful trial with the Hatters which saw him impress in pre-season friendlies.

Perrett had become surplus to requirements at Ninian Park after Cardiff signed Manchester City's Spencer Prior for £700,000 and Bluebirds chairman Sam Hamann, a long-time friend of Joe Kinnear's from their days together at Wimbledon, allowed Perrett to join the Hatters for nothing.

Russell was a late arrival into professional football - which signalled his fifth career change - he had previously been a barman, a gardener, a groundworker, concrete labourer and a window fitter.

Joe Kinnear said of his seventh summer signing, "He's an old-fashioned centre-half, good in the air and quick."

Perrett opted to join Luton ahead of Second Division Bournemouth, who had made a late bid for his services after they heard of Luton's interest in him. Perrett became the second signing in as many days after Kinnear snapped up midfielder Paul Hughes on a free transfer from Southampton.

Born in Barton on Sea, Russell began his career with Portsmouth before being released by the club as a youngster in 1991. He signed for non-league Lymington, before being snapped up by his former club, Portsmouth, in September 1995. He made his debut in November and, despite being sent off in his second full game, he bounced back with a string of good performances and went on to make 9 appearances in the Pompey first-team during his first season at Fratton Park, the 1995-96 campaign.

For a player who had been discarded by Portsmouth in 1991 when still a youngster, it must have given Russell a warm feeling inside when making the transition from the reserve team to Portsmouth's first-team in 1996-97, following the departure of Guy Butters in October. Russell was not going to let the opportunity slip this time and once in the side on a regular basis, and forming a solid partnership with Andy Awford, his all-round performances came on in leaps and bounds. Making 32 league appearances during the campaign, he also scored his first goal for the club at Tranmere in October.

Russell came back into Portsmouth's starting line-up at the end of August of the 1997-98 season, and he was unable to hold down a regular first-team place. A centre-back with good ability on the ground, having a liking to play the ball to feet, and strong in the air as you would expect from someone of his height, unfortunately, his loss of form coincided with others regaining theirs, and he only really came into contention when injuries and suspensions it the team.

He again struggled to hold down a regular first-team place at Fratton Park during the 1998-99 season, and in the 15 league matches that he played in, he was booked three times and sent off once, the manager growing frustrated at his lack of discipline. Regarded more as a fringe player than as a solid regular member of the side, it was obvious that his days with Pompey were numbered and he moved to Cardiff City for £10,000 in July 1999.

The 1999-00 campaign, Russell's first with Cardiff, was also the Bluebirds first season in Division Two, having been promoted from the Third Division the previous season. A regular in the side at the heart of Cardiff's defence, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 FA Cup win over Leyton Orient, while his only other goal of the campaign saw him earn the side a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield at the end of March. However, his disciplinary problems were still evident, with Russell booked 6 times and sent off twice during the season as Cardiff were relegated straight back to Division Three.

The 2000-01 season saw Russell play just twice in the Cardiff first-team, in a defeat at Mansfield and a win at Shrewsbury at the end of April and, as Cardiff won the Third Division Championship, Russell was allowed to leave Ninian Park.

Russell did, however, have a much happier time at Kenilworth Road as he was a member of a promotion-winning Third Division side for the second season in succession - only this time he was a regular member of the team.

He was a virtual ever-present throughout the season, his dominating presence in the centre of the Luton defence vital to the team's consistent form and good defensive record. Only missing matches when either injured or suspended, Russell formed an excellent partnership in the centre of the Hatters defence with Chris Coyne, who had joined from Dundee for £50,000 in September 2001.

Russell made his Luton debut on the opening day of the 2001-02 season as the Hatters began life in Division Three with a 2-0 win at Carlisle, and he was on a winning-side again in the next match, his home debut, as Luton defeated Cheltenham 2-1. He scored his first goal for Luton in a 2-0 victory at Scunthorpe in mid-October, and three matches later he bagged another goal as Swansea were beaten 3-0 at Kenilworth Road. He was to score once more during the remainder of the season, in a 1-1 home draw with Carlisle, and he appeared in 40 League matches for the Hatters during the course of the campaign, as Luton amassed 97 points and finished 2nd in Division Three earning their first promotion in 20 years.

Russell had another consistent season for the Hatters during the 2002-03 campaign, although he suffered somewhat with various injuries during the course of the season and this restricted his appearances. However, when he did play, he performed competently once again, and continued to form a strong central defensive partnership with Chris Coyne.

Russell is a firm favourite with the Luton supporters who admire his ability to not only score the odd goal when coming forward for set pieces, but also his solid defensive attributes, and his willingness to always give 100% for the cause.

Russell began the season alongside Chris Coyne at the heart of the Hatters defence and manager Joe Kinnear always selected him in the side when he was available, Kinnear quite blatantly believing that Russell and Chris Coyne were his best central defensive pairing.

Russell made a total of 23 appearances for Luton in all competitions during the season, 20 of those coming in the League, and he scored two goals – both headers – in a 3-0 home win over Chesterfield and in a 2-2 home draw with Notts County. Helping the Hatters to a 9th placed finish in Division Two, Russell was hoping that he could help Luton go one step further during the 2003-04 campaign and gain promotion to Division One under the guidance of new boss Mike Newell.

However, Russell had a very disappointing 2003-04 season as he spent almost the entire campaign out through injury. The former Cardiff City defender made just 6 appearances (one of those coming as a substitute) – although in those 6 games, he did manage to net two goals!

Having missed the opening of the season through injury, Russell made his first appearance of the campaign as a substitute in a 0-3 loss at Oldham Athletic in late September 2003. He then earned a starting place in the side for the next 5 matches, during which he netted two goals (both headers from corners) in a 3-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers in front of the Sky Television cameras and in a 3-1 home win over Wycombe Wanderers.

However, he picked up an injury in a 3-6 defeat at AFC Bournemouth in late October 2003, and he was forced to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines.

After enduring a forgettable 2003-04 season, Russell was given another chance by manager Mike Newell when he was handed a new one-year deal and he was hoping to return to full fitness for the 2004-05 season and show Newell exactly what he is capable of.

Russell had another excellent season during the 2004-05 campaign as he provided valuable experience and an able backup to regular central defenders Chris Coyne and Curtis Davies.

Always giving 100% when asked to step into the side, Russell was strong in the air and cool on the ground and he impressed everyone when asked to jump straight into the side to replace suspended or injured players. Indeed at one time, he kept Chris Coyne out of the side for a few matches after the Australian had been suspended.

Making a total of 12 League appearances during the course of the season, and also one appearance in the LDV Vans Trophy at Swansea City, Russell scored one goal during the campaign, that coming in the final match of the season in a 3-3 draw at Doncaster Rovers when he came in for the injured Curtis Davies.

After helping the Hatters to the League One Championship, where they pipped Hull City to the title, Russell was rewarded with a new one-year contract to stay at Kenilworth Road.

Russell had another injury-hit season during the 2005-06 campaign, but when he did play, he looked every bit the quality player that Joe Kinnear signed for the Hatters some four years previously.

Beginning the season as back-up to Chris Coyne, Markus Heikkinen and rising star Curtis Davies, Russell also helped with the pre-match warming up of his fellow Hatters players. However, following the £3 million sale of Davies to West Bromwich Albion and an injury to Markus Heikkinen, Russell found himself playing alongside his old partner Chris Coyne in the centre of defence. Operating alongside the Australian for three matches – a defeat at QPR, a 1-0 victory at Hull City in front of the Sky television cameras and a 2-2 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday, Russell returned to the bench following Heikkinen’s return to fitness.

He remained on the bench until early November when, following an injury to Coyne, he partnered youngster Leon Barnett in defence for a 2-3 home loss to Burnley. Just a fortnight later, he was sent off for two bookable offences in a 0-2 defeat at Norwich City before returning to the substitutes bench for a 2-0 home victory over Crystal Palace, where he appeared as a 52nd minute replacement for the injured Chris Coyne.

He made a further four appearances during the remainder of the season – all in the starting line-up – in a defeat at eventual Champions Reading, in home victories over Derby County (1-0) and Ipswich Town (1-0) and in a 1-1 draw at arch rivals Watford, where he gave a solid display to keep dangerous Hornets strikers Marlon King and Darius Henderson relatively quiet. However, towards the end of the season, his injury problems resurfaced and he was forced to sit out the final month of the campaign.

Helping the Hatters to a highly creditable 10th placed finish in the Championship, Russell was out-of-contract at the end of the season, but he had done enough to persuade manager Mike Newell to offer him a new one-year contract.

Russell went into the 2006-07 season as more of an experienced back-up to Leon Barnett, Chris Coyne and Markus Heikkinen and, as usual, he never let anyone down when called upon to replace the injured or suspended trio.

However, his injuries again affected his ability to appear on a regular basis and he was limited to just 10 first-team appearances during the course of the season. He netted his only goal of the campaign with a brave header in a 1-2 defeat at Southampton in late November 2006.

Ruled out of the season finale through injury, Russell's last outing of the campaign came in a 0-0 draw at Stoke City in mid-February 2007. However, he was rewarded for his contributions with a new one-year contract by manager Mike Newell - but Newell was sacked just weeks later and replaced by Kevin Blackwell.

However, Russell didn't feature in Blackwell's plans and during the summer of 2007 - despite being handed a new one-year deal by former boss Mike Newell - has was handed a free transfer by Blackwell and he signed a one-year contract at League One rivals AFC Bournemouth.