Glenavon complete double signing

Centre back Lee McNulty arrives at Mourneview Park from Dergview and forward Josh Doyle joins the club from Bluebell United in the Leinster Senior League.

With Daniel Larmour having agreed a pre-contract with Crusaders, Gary Hamilton told the club website he was keen to strengthen the Lurgan Blues defensive options.

“Lee played for Dergview against us in pre-season and after the game I spoke to Ivan Sproule about him,” said Hamilton.

“Since Daniel Larmour made his decision to sign for Crusaders on a pre-contract we’ve been looking to get centre backs and unfortunately we haven’t been able to get one in that has been playing week in, week out. They just aren’t out there and clubs don’t want to let players go because they’re all in the same boat.

“When we saw him in pre-season he was big, he was quick and he was physical. He did really well against us and we thought there was potentially there. We’ve taken a gamble on him but from our point of view it was an educated gamble.

“Ivan Sproule talks about him very, very highly and if anyone can give you a recommendation on a player it’s him, given his career.

“I said before I only want to play players who want to be here long-term.

“Daniel and Tuffers are great lads and I have no problem with it. But at the same time I’m the manager of the football club and I have to look after Glenavon Football Club.”

18-year-old Doyle arrives in Lurgan with a glowing reputation having found the net on 22 occasions in his last 10 games!

But Hamilton is asking for patience with the young players, particularly as they have been inactive due to the Covid restrictions.

"These players are going to make mistakes and they aren’t going to be sharp," he said.

"I’d plead with our fans to give them patience. It’s not like when we’ve signed players like Steo Donnelly – these guys are coming in, they’re not fit, they’re not sharp and it’s not like we can wave a magic wand to make them match fit or give them game time.

“One thing is for sure though, they’ve all got pedigree and talent. The game time is the one thing that they are lacking in.

“It’s unfortunate that there is no football being played in the leagues that we would look at either to sign players from or to loan players to. It’s a surreal situation, as the world is at the moment."

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