Portadown have unveiled the signing of experienced left-back Michael Ruddy on a three-year contract.
The 27-year-old makes the switch to Shamrock Park following three seasons with the Crues during which time he collected Irish Cup and County Antrim Shield winners medals. In the season just finished he made 17 appearances, scoring once in a 3-1 victory over Carrick Rangers in March.
Prior to that the tough tackling defender spent time at Ards and Ballymena United, from whom he joined at the end of an initial period on the books at Seaview as a teenager.
Ruddy is looking forward to continuing his career at Shamrock Park.
"I’m an experienced player now at the back end of my twenties but I’m still young enough, fresh and ready to go to do well for Portadown, can’t wait to get started," he said.
Ports boss Matthew Tipton was delighted to kick off his rebuilding for next season by bringing Ruddy to the club.
"It goes without saying that Michael is an experienced player in the league, we know what he’s about and he’s a solid left back which is something we’ve been looking for probably over my three years here as we’ve never felt settled with anybody at left back.
"Michael comes with a good pedigree and good hunger, 27 now which means he’s an old man in our team but really and truly in football he’s a young man. He’s fit and ready to go and hungry to play which was a big thing for us over the conversations we had both over the phone and in person and I’m delighted it’s over the line.
"It's a massive position for us and we’re looking at Michael and what he’s done over the time he was at Ards, scoring plenty of goals and he’s a threat in both boxes. Obviously from set pieces attacking wise for us, a strong marker and aggressive in the tackle as well as pace to get up and down the wing and provide a good delivery into the box. For us he ticks all the boxes we wanted."
Meanwhile, Tipton has confirmed that half a dozen players will be leaving the club following the expiry of their contracts namely Ben Pierce, Chris Crane, Stephen Murray, Conall McGrandles, Gareth Buchanan and Kevin Healy.
In addition, loanees Ben Guy, Eamon Scannell, Ben Tilney and Jacob Carney have returned to their parent clubs.
