Kelbie on his way out

The former Ballymena United forward signed a two-year contract in the summer, but his Glenavon career made a stuttering start as he bagged just one goal in 19 appearances (13 starts).

After previous boss Marty Quinn resigned from the club, interim manager Pat McAllister refused to fly Kelbie over from Scotland and now that Gary Hamilton has taken over, the injured striker’s time at the club looks to be at an end.

“At the end of the day, I think that Kevin respects my decision,” began Hamilton.

“The situation with Kevin is that he goes back to Scotland and the club are talking to him with the possibility that he moves on.

“Kevin’s got ankle ligament damage and it’s unfortunate for him. The fact is though that he’s living in Scotland and I can’t fly him in to play reserve football because that’s not very practical. I have to make a decision and my decision was based on the fact that I don’t have six to eight weeks to get somebody fit.

“I’ve been in the situation that he’s in at the minute in that he’s going through a bad patch, carrying that bit of extra weight and he doesn’t look match fit and it’s hard.

“I met Kevin on Saturday and I explained to him that if he was back home it would be different. I could train him that extra night, play him in the reserves and that would be for me to get him fit and confident.

“I’ve told Kevin where he stands with me. I would have loved it to be that Kevin lives over here because nobody becomes a bad player overnight.”

It is a must that Hamilton gets some players out through the exit door of Mourneview Park in January if he is to bring in any additions to his squad, such are the tight budgets at the club.

“I haven’t got money in my budget and we have to make money available,” he said.

“Until I know if I’m going to do any business and until it’s sorted with the players that we could be getting rid of, I’m not going to talk about anybody who might come in. I’m not going to talk behind people’s backs.”