Ballymena Utd season preview

2024-25 league position: 9th

Manager: Jim Ervin

Opening fixtures: Glenavon (A) - 9 August; Linfield (H) - 15 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Portadown (A) - 19 August; Bangor (H) - 23 August; Larne (A) - 29 August

Just like last season, it has been a busy summer at the Ballymena Showgrounds with plenty of ins and outs.

Some of the new arrivals will excite the Sky Blue faithful with the likes of Daire O'Connor, Matthew Clarke and David Toure among the more eye-catching additions who have performed well in the Irish Premiership with different clubs.

While Ben Kennedy scored 11 goals in 12 games in the early part of last season, when they started to dry up Ballymena lacked a clinical striker to share the burden, a position Ervin will surely be keen to try and strengthen before the window closes.

The Sky Blues made a bright start to the 2024-25 campaign, briefly topping the table in October after an eight-game winning run in the league, but then their form dipped, and they registered just six more win from 26 games.

The Braidmen will hope to cut out those inconsistencies this time around with a stronger squad as they push to break into the top six.

2025-26 signings so far: Ryan McNickle (Newry City), Declan Breen (Cliftonville), Matthew Clarke (Livingston), Jack O'Reilly (Carrick Rangers), Daire O'Connor (Hamilton Academical), David Toure (Glenavon), Joel Thompson (Finn Harps), Ali Gould (Watford)

2025-26 departures so far: Luke Hawe (Southampton), Johnny McMurray (retired), Sam Johnston (unattached), Caleb Crawford (unattached), Fiontan O'Boyle (Ballyclare Comrades), Shane Flynn (unattached), Jordan McMullan (Glenavon), Duncan Idehen (Derry City, end of loan), Conor Barr (Derry City, end of loan), Ethan Devine (Linfield, end of loan), Joe Moore (Armagh City), Shea McAuley (Coagh United, loan), Lewis Tennant (Dundela, loan), Caolan Loughran (Ards, loan)