Conor McMenamin is back at Glentoran after a shock return that ends his Coleraine FC spell just two months after he signed on 23 June. He did not start a game during that short stint, and the deal also sends J. Thomson the other way to Coleraine.
McMenamin's quick return
McMenamin's exit from Coleraine is a quick one by any standard. He only joined on 23 June, then moved back to Glentoran just two months later without a start to his name for his brief spell at the Showgrounds.
Speaking to bbc.co.uk, McMenamin said: "Everything has happened really quickly, but once I knew there was an opportunity to return to Glentoran, I was delighted to take it."
The winger also pointed back to his first spell at the Oval, saying: "I played some of the best football of my career here, earned my first Northern Ireland call-up and secured a move to Scotland. My three years with St Mirren were hugely important and I return as a better and more experienced player."
A swap that fits both clubs
The move is not just a return for McMenamin. J. Thomson goes to the Showgrounds as part of the same deal, giving it an immediate two-way shape.
It is a striking flip for Coleraine FC, who had started the season with three wins and a draw from four matches, while Glentoran were sixth with two wins and two defeats. The clubs are in very different places, but McMenamin's own view is clear enough: he is back where he believes he played some of his best football, and he is arriving with more experience than when he left.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
