Kearney confirms eight departures at Ballymena

Ballymena United manager Oran Kearney has announced the departure of eight players from the club with the possibility of that number rising to 12. Defenders Stephen O'Donnell and former Northern Ireland international Daniel Lafferty, midfielders Aaron Jarvis and ex-Scotland international Dylan McGeouch, plus goalkeeper Brad Wade have not been offered renewed terms and will leave the club. Alex Gawne, Caolan Loughran and Shea McAuley - who were out on loan this season - will also leave at the end of their contracts, while Dean Ebbe, Ali Gould, Ryan McNickle and Jack O'Reilly have been made available for transfer.

Kearney took over at the Ballymena Showgrounds in December following the departure of Jim Ervin and guided the club to a ninth-place finish in this season's Irish Premiership. The departures represent the first phase of his summer rebuild at the club.