Off season has been 'relentless' but Oran Kearney pleased with work done to date at Ballymena United

There has been a hive of transfer activity at the Ballymena Showgrounds as eight new players have already been confirmed as Kearney embarks on first full season in the dugout at the Braidmen.

Five of those signings bring a winning mentality from Linfield as David Walsh, Scot Whiteside, Charlie Allen, Josh Archer and Chris McKee all lifted silverware at Windsor Park, whilst fellow arrivals Micheal Glynn, Jonny Addis and Stephen Fallon have all tasted success in their careers.

Those incomings has yielded the exit door for 13 players as Kearney gets to drips on the United squad for the latest campaign.

"I think managers will tell you that the longest part is nearly the off-season,” Kearney told Ballymena’s social media platforms.

"It's non-stop and there's a huge amount of work that goes into it away from organising pre-season, players in and players out, and all that sort of stuff.

"It's been relentless that way but listen we're happy with the work that we've done to date.

"More importantly, for players and everybody else, there are new guys who are starting and new guys coming back...it's great for everybody to get in and get started.

"There's probably been a big turnover of players or a big transition from that perspective.

"It's just about integrating everybody, getting everybody off the same page and in simple terms getting the hard yards done.

"That's what pre-season is about...as few injuries as possible with as many miles as possible is ideally what we're looking for."

During his tenure as Coleraine manager, Kearney elected to have a smaller number of personnel in his panel and that’s something he plans to adopt further down the A26.

He revealed: "It's been well-documented the incomings and players that we've signed this summer but there's also been quite a few players who have moved on, and we wish them all the best as well.

"It will be a big change and I think we carried the guts of 28 to 30 players last season and this season it will be different.

"I think we are sitting around 20 or 21 professionals, with a couple of young lads in pre-season.

"Those are the numbers I like to work off and it's nice to get a few young lads amongst it as it gives them a feel for it and it shows a pathway from the 20s that there's an opportunity there.”

Kearney has also drafted in former Institute and Portstewart manager John Gregg into his coaching staff.

"John is someone I've known for a long time and worked with at Coleraine for a long period of time,” he added.

"I've come to battle with him many times I suppose when he was at Glentoran or Dungannon or clubs that he's been at.

"His reputation is really good around the place, he's a brilliant coach, he's brilliant in and around the changing room, knows his way around a training field and knows his way around a matchday on a Saturday.

"From that point of view, we are delighted to get him in and I'm really looking forward to working with him.”