Crusaders complete deal for Jonny Tuffey

It was revealed last week the former Partick Thistle goalkeeper had turned down the offer of a new deal with the Lurgan Blues.

Craig Hyland was brought in to Mourneview Park paving the way for Tuffey to make an immediate exit.

A deal was agreed between the clubs on Saturday evening and the 34-year-old is looking forward to the new challenge.

"I am obviously delighted to join Crusaders," he told the club website.

"It all happened very late last night when I received a call to say a deal had been agreed between the two clubs and after thrashing out personal terms today and got it done and dusted so I am here, I've signed and I am ready to join the group and give my best to Crusaders now."

Tuffey also thanked Glenavon and boss Gary Hamilton for the last six years.

"I would like to place on record to Gary Hamilton and Glenavon for everything over the last six years that I have been there but it's time to look forward and fully commit to this wonderful club in the years ahead," he said.

Crues boss Stephen Baxter is delighted to bring in the former Northern Ireland international.

"It is a real coup for the club to bring a goalkeeper of Jonny's outstanding qualities here," he said.

"He is an International goalkeeper, played professional football in Scotland, a long Irish League career behind him so a very experienced goalkeeper.

"Obviously we have picked up two fairly serious injuries to our own goalkeepers so we have to move quickly so I would like to thank the board for making that happen as quickly as it did because we are coming into a very important run of games in the next few weeks."

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