Goalkeeper Jamie Pardington is about to sign a contract with League One team Cheltenham Town, having left Larne on Monday.
Pardington, who signed with the Premiership champions in January and made his league debut against Coleraine on the last day of the season, is expected to join the Robins, according to a report from Gloucestershire Live’s Jon Palmer last night.
The 22-year-old signed with Grimsby Town and later Larne last summer after participating in a friendly match for Cheltenham.
Pardington had a number of successful loan stints with clubs lower on the English league table, such as Mansfield Town, after beginning his senior career with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Luke Southwood, the goalkeeper for Northern Ireland, played as the starting goalkeeper for Cheltenham last season while on loan from Reading. However, as Palmer also writes, Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town, who were promoted to the Championship, are interested in signing him.
Max Hutchison and Andy Mitchell have also left the Larne playing group in advance of the upcoming campaign, in addition to Pardington.
After coming from Waterford to Inver Park last summer, Hutchinson played in three league games. Mitchell, on the other hand, will stay on the coaching staff as he takes a full-time job with the club’s scholarship program.
Manager Tiernan Lynch posted on the Larne website, saying, “All three lads move on with our very best wishes.” “After witnessing Andy’s significant influence throughout the previous season, we are thrilled that he is pursuing his coaching career at the club.
At this point in his career, Max needs regular first team football, and he’s a wonderful young player who is going after it. “We wouldn’t completely rule out going back to the club in the future. Another boy who has been a pleasure to work with is Jamie.
“He was a major contributor to our remarkable run since he joined us, pushing Rohan Ferguson all the way since his arrival.”