Glenavon would 'love maybe one more in' as January recruits shine in Irish Cup win
Glenavon coach Andy Doyle admits the Lurgan Blues are continuing their search for January transfer improvements with the priority “one more attacking-minded player”.
The Mourneview Park outfit set up an Irish Cup sixth round clash against Cliftonville following Tuesday’s extra-time triumph over Newington.
Darren Stuart put the Championship side ahead before Paul McGovern drew the hosts level, but Newington went in front once again following a stunning Ruaidhri Donnelly free-kick.
Peter Campbell’s last-gasp equaliser sent the tie to extra-time, where January signings Nathaniel Ferris and Gavin Gilmore both scored their first Glenavon goals.
Glenavon chief Michael O’Connor has been active in the transfer market, bringing in four players so far, and Doyle revealed they remain on the hunt for further reinforcements.
"We’d love more in, but it has to be the right player,” he told the club’s media channel. “We’re not going to panic and try to get someone in.
"The squad is really good. We’d love maybe one more in, one more attacking-minded player and we’ll be happy with the squad.
"(We target) someone who is good for the changing room. Those we have signed are really good lads.
“Players we have signed in the past, and it’s not just us but every club, don’t fit the changing room so that’s a massive part of it.”
Following Carrick Rangers’ draw against reigning Premiership champions Linfield, Glenavon are eight points adrift at the bottom of the table with 15 matches still to play.
Doyle is hopeful his side can string together a run of positive results after sealing Irish Cup progression and feels they’re now in a better position compared to when the new management team arrived in October.
“I thought it was a fair result in the end,” he added. “It was great character from us.
"What a free-kick from Ruaidhri, it’s unreal, no goalkeeper is saving it, but it’s great fight from us,
"We didn’t stop until the very end and I knew we would have too much for them in extra-time so I think it was a fair result.
"The morale has been good and we feel with our squad we’re in a better position now than we were two months ago.
"I feel we’re doing really well, the morale is really good in the changing room and around the ground, so I feel now we can maybe kick on and go on a run in the league, which is what we need.
"I’ve no doubt with the squad we have now we’re in a far better position than we were two months ago.”