Ballymena United have announced the appointment of Jim Ervin as the new manager at The Showgrounds on a three-year contract.

The 37-year-old steps into the Warden Street hotseat in what will be his first managerial role following the departure of David Jeffrey earlier this month after the Irish Cup final defeat to Crusaders.

A former Showgrounds favourite, who captained the club to County Antrim Shield and League Cup victories, Ervin clocked up over 275 appearances for the Sky Blues in a seven-year spell between January 2014 and May 2021 before leaving for Carrick Rangers.

Prior to that Ervin spent almost a decade with Linfield, collecting no fewer than 14 winners' medals including six league titles and four in the Irish Cup. He was also part of the historic 'clean sweep' Linfield side in 2004/05.

As a youth he was capped at numerous underage levels by Northern Ireland and served an apprenticeship at Nottingham Forest before returning to these shores.