Bangor transfer window review
- Published
2024-25 league position: 1st (NIFL Championship)
Manager: Lee Feeney
Next five fixtures: Larne (H) - 6 September; Carrick Rangers (A) - 13 September; Portadown (A) - 19 September; Linfield (H) - 27 September; Coleraine (H) - 4 October
Bangor have not gone crazy in the transfer market for their first season back in the top flight since 2009.
Manager Lee Feeney, who signed a three-year contract extension in the summer, has moved to add some Irish Premiership experience to his team with the additions of Gareth Deane and Mark Haughey from Glenavon and the return of Lewis Francis from Loughgall on deadline day.
The first two players have gone straight into the side alongside Stephen McGuinness, who had a productive loan spell with the Seasiders last year.
Other additions are mostly young players keen to get regular game time and it will be interesting to see if the likes of Harry Lynch, Oisin Devlin and Liam Burns can cement a place in the side.
While retaining many of the key performers from their title-winning season, their squad still looks a bit undercooked for the demands of the top flight.
The best piece of business they did was tie Championship Player of the Year Ben Arthurs down to a new deal and he has already two goals in five games. His goals will be crucial to Bangor's hopes of staying up.
The deadline day addition of Patrick Solis Grogan, who performed so admirably on loan last year in the Championship, on a permanent deal will also help.
2025-26 signings so far: Gareth Deane (Glenavon), Stephen McGuinness (Cliftonville), Ross Ferguson (Larne), Mark Haughey (Glenavon), Harry Lynch (Glenavon), Liam Burns (Linfield), Paul Osew (unattached), Oisin Devlin (Larne - loan), Lewis Francis (Loughgall), Patrick Solis Grogan (Dungannon Swifts)
2025-26 departures so far: Adam Neale (Ballymacash Rangers), Jack Reilly (Ards), James Taylor (Ards), Callum Byres (Victoria Athletic), Ben Fry (Knockbreda), Patrick Solis Grogan (Dungannon Swifts - end of loan), Matthew Ferguson (Dundela)