'We were gutted to lose him': Declan Devine confident Glentoran recruits can fill void ahead of Premiership title bid

Former Bournemouth defender Zeno Ibsen Rossi has been drafted in from Cambridge United following the exit of loan star MJ Kamson-Kamara, who joined Scottish Premiership outfit Hearts after an impressive debut Irish League campaign last term.

Devine has also had to deal with the loss of Cameron Palmer, Glentoran’s Player of the Year, with the midfielder earning a move to Livingston.

Greg Sloggett, who starred in the League of Ireland for Derry City and Dundalk alongside spending time in England, was Glentoran’s first arrival of the window while Rhys Walsh has also returned following a spell at Sunderland.

While disappointed to lose top talent, Devine believes Glentoran have conducted smart summer business.

"Both Cameron and MJ were superb for us last season and were among the outstanding players in the Premiership," said Devine. "Unfortunately, MJ's loan spell came to an end and you saw just how highly sought after he was when Hearts moved quickly to sign him.

"Cameron has joined him in Scotland after signing for Scottish Championship side Livingston.

“We were gutted to lose him because he was the outstanding midfielder in the Premiership last season.

"It was a fantastic opportunity for him and we fully understood his reasons for making the move.

"When you lose players of that quality, it's vitally important that you replace them with quality players and I think we've done really well in that regard.

"Zeno showed in our European tie against RFS just how good he is. He has a wealth of experience from his time with Bournemouth, Kilmarnock and Dundee.

"Not only is he an outstanding defender, but he's also going to be a real threat in the opposition penalty area.

"Greg is another player with bags of quality and experience from his time in the League of Ireland and, more recently, in England. He'll be a big player for us.

"I was also delighted to bring Rhys back to the club. He's an exciting player who gets people off their seats and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do this season."

Glentoran challenged for Gibson Cup honours until the final day of last season, where they were beaten 6-2 by Coleraine, meaning the club’s title wait will go into an 18th year in 2027.

Devine’s men begin their campaign by hosting Premiership newcomers Limavady United and the Glens chief knows there’s little room for error as his side look to make a quick start.

"In the Irish League now, you can't afford to stand still because every team is investing in their squad and pushing forward," he added. "It's not just the full-time teams, it's every club throughout the league that's doing business and looking to strengthen.

"That's the beauty of the Irish League. We know every team is competitive and, on any given day, can beat anyone.

"We saw that on numerous occasions last season and I've no doubt it will be exactly the same this year.

"We have a squad here with a real hunger and desire to bring success to this club, and I've seen that since the players returned for pre-season.

"There's no dress rehearsal now. We have to be at it from the first game, as we saw last year.

"You can't afford to throw away points in this league because you can find yourself off the pace very quickly.

"The teams I expect to be challenging for the title will be thinking exactly the same way, and they'll be out to win every game too.

"It's going to be a real challenge, but it's one that everyone at this club is relishing."