Larne season preview

2024-25 league position: 2nd

Manager: Nathan Rooney

Opening fixtures: Coleraine (A) - 10 August; Crusaders (H) - 15 August; Cliftonville (A) - 19 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Portadown (H) - 22 August; Ballymena United (H) - 29 August

Having relinquished the league title to Linfield, this could be a season of transition for Larne after much change behind the scenes with owner Kenny Bruce, chief executive Niall Curneen and general manager Shay Kennedy all leaving the club.

But with Nathan Rooney re-installed as manager after enrolling on his Uefa Pro Licence course, there is stability in the dugout and it has yielded positive European results over the summer.

After seeing off Auda and Prishtina, Larne face Santa Clara in the third round of Uefa Conference League qualifying before starting their Premiership campaign away to Coleraine.

Larne's 2024-25 campaign was disrupted by European commitments, which stretched their squad and left a fixture backlog. If they fail to reach the Conference League this time, they can focus their energy on winning back the title.

But even if they embark on another European adventure, the majority of the squad will know what to expect.

2025-26 signings so far: Matt Ridley (Blyth Spartans), Dan Bent (Lincoln Red Imps), Kobei Moore (unattached), Alfie Bridgman (unattached)

2025-26 departures so far: Ali Omar, Joe Besant, Olatunde Bayode and Harrison Panayiotou (all unattached), Sean Brown (Linfield), Shaun Want (Ayr United), Caolan Donnelly (Ards), Ambrose Ajala (Queen's University - loan)