Article: published on 6 August 2024

Dungannon achieved a much improved league position of eighth last season after their former boss Rodney McAree took charge at the club for a second spell.

A number of players have left the club in the summer, while among the arrivals are experienced defender Dylan King and John McGovern from relegated Newry City, while former Glentoran player Gael Bigirimana has signed for the club on a permanent basis.

Another mid-table finish would represent satisfactory consolidation for the Stangmore Park club, who now have ex-Institute boss John Gregg as part of McAree's backroom team following his switch from Glentoran.

Transfers In: Bobby Jack McAleese, Dylan King, Gael Bigirimana, John McGovern, Patrick Solis Grogan.

Transfers Out: Chris Hegarty [retired], James Convie, Joe Moore, Kenny Ximenes [loan], Lewis Francis, Matthew Lusty [end of loan], Rhyss Campbell, Ryan Harpur [retired], Padraig Lynch [loan].

Joel Taggart's take: McAree has led a transformation at Stangmore Park with the Swifts moving from a relegation play off two seasons ago to being on the verge of the European play-off last season.

They took 15 points from games against the top six last season compared to just three points the previous campaign, and finished the season 17 points better off than they had done a year earlier.

That will be hard to replicate.

Opening fixtures: 10/8 - Coleraine (h); 17/8 - Linfield (a); 20/8 - Cliftonville (a); 24/8 - Dungannon Swifts (a)