Extratime.ie

Newry City's Mickey Collins is on his way to League of Ireland Premier Division newcomers Dundalk, after the Irish League club agreed to release the player from his contract.

"Dundalk want to sign Mickey, and if they meet our valuation then the player could end up going there," said Newry boss Gerry Flynn at the beginning of last month. However, according to the Belfast Telegraph, Newry have now agreed to release Collins, who will sign a two-year full-time contract with the Lilywhites.

The former Portadown midfielder has been at Newry for just over twelve months after he was released by Ports manager Ronnie McFall because of his poor disciplinary record; a record which led to him being dubbed 'Mental Mickey' by fans. Now in his 30s, Collins also previously played for Cliftonville, and has been rated as one of the best midfielders in the North over the past twelve years, during which period he has enjoyed league and cup success.

He is Connor's seventh new signing at Oriel Park and his first from the Irish League. Collins could, incidentally, make his debut against a Northern team next Tuesday, as Dundalk visit Lisburn Distillery for their opening pre-season friendly.

Connor's confirmed signings to date are new recruits Thomas Heary, Darren Mansaram, Harpal Singh, Shaun Kelly, Declan O'Brien, Chris Turner and now Mickey Collins, who add to the retained quartet of Chris Bennion, Tiarnan Mulvenna, Simon Kelly and Shane Grimes.

Meanwhile, defensive pair Liam Burns and Dave Rogers both continue to train with the squad. Former goalkeeper Neil Gallagher has also recently been training, as Connor continues to search for a back-up netminder. Trialists, Maltese striker Etienne Barbara, Jamaican forward Dwight Barnett, local striker Kyle Moran, former Shamrock Rovers 'keeper Robert Duggan and Ipswich's young Irish defender Michael Synnott have also been part of Connor's pre-season training programme.

Connor is also close to landing Glasgow Celtic's midfield duo of Michael McGlinchey and Simon Ferry, while fellow midfielder Garreth O'Connor's on, off deal could still happen.