Harper looking for a Swift exit

The Glenavon midfielder has been given permission to speak to other clubs and is already in talks with the Swifts as Gary Hamilton attempts to free up wages coming into the January sales.

Harpur, who joined the club back in 2008 before making 135 appearances and scoring 11 goals, hasn’t started a league game since 19th November and looks to be on his way out, along with other, as yet unnamed Glenavon players.

“There will also be a couple of players going for definite but I have to tell the players concerned first,” confirmed Hamilton.

“One of the reasons that I’m letting Ryan go is that he is one of the only players that another club has come in for. I have to get players off the wage bill to get players in.

“Dungannon have formally spoken to him already and we’ll have to wait and see how things go from there.

“Ryan’s a central midfielder and I regard Niall Henderson and Ciaran Doherty as my starting pair. I think I’m well covered in that area and one of the players I’m thinking about bringing in can also play in there.

“Ryan’s out of contract in the summer and I know it can be hard for somebody if they’re not playing so I’m giving him the chance to go to a club where he can play and further his career. If the chance does come along then I wish him all the best.”

Meanwhile, some the club’s young stars will be given the chance to pick up regular football for the remainder of the season as they go out on loan.

“There’s a few lads who have had too many games at reserve level and need to start playing first team football before they come back and take their chance at Glenavon,” said Hamilton.

“At this minute in time, they need to go out and get first team football so there will be a few young lads who go out in the next week or so.”