Former Linfield and Crusaders attacker leaves club after 'exercising release clause'
Ballyclare Comrades have revealed club captain Brandon Doyle has departed the club after he “exercised a release clause in his contract”.
Doyle scored 19 goals across all competitions last season, including 11 in 25 Premier Intermediate League matches as Ballyclare missed out on promotion – they sat in a promising position entering 2026 before ultimately finishing 10th.
Ballyclare will be taking their spot in a newly-formed National Conference Premier Division ahead of next term but will do so without Doyle, who is pushing for a move to Northern Ireland’s second-tier.
The Co Antrim club posted: “We can confirm that Brandon Doyle has exercised a release clause in his contract, and has left the club in pursuit of Championship football.
"We thank Brandon for his efforts with us, and wish him all the best for his future footballing career.”
Doyle started his senior career at Linfield, making his Premiership debut as a substitute against Coleraine in November 2018, before joining top-flight Warrenpoint Town on loan for the 2019/20 campaign and moved to Crusaders in 2021.
He featured in their dramatic Irish Cup final win over Ballymena United the following year when Johnny McMurray scored in the dying seconds of extra-time at Windsor Park.
The 27-year-old has made 77 Premiership appearances and also impressed in the Championship, scoring 11 times in 32 second-tier matches across spells with H&W Welders and Ballyclare in 2024/25.
Meanwhile, Cliftonville have confirmed that striker Ryan Curran has signed a new one-year contract to remain at Solitude.
Curran has been one of the Reds’ top performers since joining from Ballinamallard United in 2018, scoring 103 goals in 317 appearances across all competitions.
The 32-year-old is the latest player to commit his future to Cliftonville after record goalscorer Joe Gormley and Shaun Leppard also signed new deals in recent days.