BANGOR manager Lee Feeney says he’s hopeful of adding his squad in the coming weeks ahead of a long awaited return to the second tier in four weeks’ time.
The Kilkeel native has already secured the services of a number of last season’s league and cup winning group, in a busy few days behind the scenes at Clandeboye Park.
Goalkeepers James Taylor and Marc Orbinson have re-signed for the Seasiders alongside midfielders Dylan O’Kane, Karl Devine and Aaron Harris.
Meanwhile, long serving defender Gareth Beattie will remain at Bangor next season. The right-back first joined the club in 2011 before departing for a spell with Harland & Wolff Welders. Beattie returned to Bangor in 2015 and helped lift the Seasiders from the Ballymena League to the Championship.
Attackers Tom Mathieson and Jordan Hughes have also committed to another season with Bangor, while Irish League great Michael Halliday shows no signs of stopping – the 44 year-old striker will be part of Lee Feeney’s squad for next season once more.
Next up for Bangor, in a packed pre-season schedule, is a trip to the Oval on Saturday (3pm) to face Glentoran before Moyola Park visit Clandeboye Park on Monday night (7.45pm).
For Feeney, it’s a case of getting another step closer to being ready for competitive football at the start of August.
“I got what I wanted out of Saturday’s match against East Belfast and the two games coming up will help us prepare the lads for the season ahead,” he said.
“It will probably be two completely different starting lineups for both matches [at the weekend]. I’ll be looking to use everyone in the squad and continue to gradually up the minutes for each player.
“I also hope to have some new faces added to the squad in the next couple of weeks. We’re really looking to add to the existing squad, so we’re being selective about which players we want to bring into the club.
“It’s important they are the right fit and add quality to what we already have. There won’t be any panic signings or bringing players in just for the sake of it.”
Departing the club are duo Ally Ferguson and Jamie Glover. Ferguson has joined Bangor Amateurs in Division 1B of the Amateur League, while Glover has made the move to fellow Championship side Harland & Wolff Welders. Also leaving Bangor are Ryley D’Sena (Larne) and Seanna Foster (Cliftonville), with both players returning to their clubs following the expiry of their loan deals.
