Glenavon confirm Jonny Tuffey set to leave the club

The former Linfield stopper was offered a new three-yer deal by the Lurgan Blues, but boss Gary Hamilton has revealed Tuffey told him he wanted a new challenge.

The 34-year-old is contracted to the club until the end of the season but it seems that he will have to make do with a place on the bench until then as Glenavon announced the signing of Craig Hyland.

The former Shamrock Rovers keeper has agreed a one-and-a-half year deal with Glenavon and will take the number one spot Hamilton confirmed this evening.

"We offered Johnny a new three-year deal but he has refused it," Hamilton told the club website.

"He's looking for something else in his career, he's looking for a new challenge.

"It's unfortunate for us as Jonny has been a great servant for us and he's someone we have a lot of time for.

"We've done everything our power to keep him at this football club, we obviously gave him an opportunity when he was released by Linfield.

"He's give this club a lot o good years of service. That's the way football goes, it all comes to an end.

"He's said he hasn't signed a deal with another club yet and we always take our players at their word.

"One thing is for sure is that Johnny won't be a Glenavon player next season.

"It's been a double hit as James Taylor is also leaving so I had to go out and get a goalkeeper in.

"We have brought in Craig Hyland who has had two or three years at Shamrock Rovers, he played in Europe for them, and any goalkeeper that's played for Shamrock Rovers has to be good as they're one of the biggest clubs in Ireland.

"Craig is coming from Dublin and with that he wants to be number one choice.

"Unfortunately for me now that Jonny has made that choice Craig will be number one and Johnny will be number two from now until the end of the season.

"At the end of the Jonny wants to move on and I want players playing from now until the end of the season that want to be here.

"When a calibre of goalkeeper like Craig comes up you have to take it."

Striker Gareth McCaffrey has also signed on at Mourneview park but defender Daniel Larmour will also be leaving as Glenavon confirmed he has agreed a pre-contract deal with Crusaders.

READ MORE:

Ten new boys who have impressed in the Irish League so far this season

IRISH LEAGUE FANS' SURVEY: Part One - Manager of the Year and Team Of The Year

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Irish and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you,

Alistair Bushe

Editor