'This wasn't my first attempt': Former Linfield star 'really exciting addition' for Ballymena United
Ballymena United manager Oran Kearney feels the arrival of former Linfield midfielder Josh Archer represents “a really exciting addition” for the Sky Blues – and revealed “this wasn't my first attempt to sign Josh”.
Archer made 120 senior appearances and won two Premiership titles after coming through the youth ranks at Windsor Park.
The 22-year-old was amongst 11 players confirmed to be leaving the Blues this summer and becomes the third ex-Linfield ace to join Ballymena after Chris McKee and Scot Whiteside.
Northern Ireland U21 international Archer, who also gained Premiership experience during a successful loan spell at Portadown, wants to take his game to a new level in this fresh chapter.
"Once I knew of the interest, I was keen to get it done,” he told the club’s website. “This will be a good thing for me, stepping out of my comfort zone and hopefully I can hit the ground running.
"I had a lot of people to learn from at Linfield but now it's time for my next step and hopefully I can keep on improving and bring as much as I can."
Kearney has made early moves as he looks to shape his squad for next season with eight players departing earlier this summer.
Archer is his fourth new signing – Micheal Glynn has also joined the Co Antrim club – and could now form a destructive midfield partnership with Fuad Sule, who arrived at The Showgrounds in January.
“This wasn't my first attempt to sign Josh as a manager,” said Kearney. “He has all the tools to succeed, he's still very young but yet so experienced with things like league and cup wins.
"He comes similar to others we're looking to bring in, in that he'll just improve with more games.
“Hopefully he is another one that is exciting for people looking at what we're building. For me, he's a really exciting addition.”