Irish League short-term loan 'ticks all our boxes' as derby rivals agree defender deal
Ballymena United boss Oran Kearney is backing Kodi Lyons-Foster to solve a backline issue with a late loan swoop for a defender who “ticks all our boxes”.
The 29-year-old makes the short switch between derby rivals on a loan spell lasting until the January transfer window - with Kearney searching for an immediate solution to injury woes following the enforced absence of summer arrival Jonny Addis.
England-born Lyons-Foster is a player Kearney considers “good quality cover” given his Irish League experience at the Bannsiders, plus Glentoran.
"With Jonny Addis picking up his injury in pre-season and the timeline we now have on that, it was important we brought in good quality cover,” said Kearney. “Kodi knows the league well and ticks all our boxes and we're looking forward to working with him until January."
A product of academy football across the water at Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, Lyons-Foster spent time within the National League system before joining Glentoran in 2024.
He arrived at Coleraine as the first high-profile signing under Ruaidhri Higgins’ management.
Lyons-Foster views past tussles with Ballymena as a rival player the perfect foundation on which to make the loan decision across the final hours of the Irish League’s summer transfer window.
"I'm really excited to get going,” said Lyons-Foster. “Playing against Ballymena over the years has always been a tough fixture and going to the Ballymena Showgrounds has always been difficult...and that's because of the atmosphere that the fans create.
"And I think looking at the playing squad this year...some of the additions that have been made are really exciting.
"I'm looking forward to obviously meeting the boys and playing with the boys and picking up as many points as we can between now and Christmas until my loan concludes.
"And see what the future holds beyond that...I'm really excited, I think it's a great football club and one I'm excited to get going for.”
A Coleraine club statement confirming the loan move for Lyons-Foster included “everyone at the club wishes Kodi all the best during his time with the Sky Blues”.