WILL Patching has commented on the closeness of the Coleraine squad as the Bannsiders face Glenavon tomorrow afternoon…

The Englishman is one of a number of new arrivals at The Showgrounds this summer as Ruaidhri Higgins begins to put his stamp on the team.

Patching, who is currently at the club on a season-long loan from Carlisle United, has impressed during his three outings to date as the Stripes have amassed seven points out of a possible nine.

But how does he feel the new signings – including himself – have settled into their new surroundings?

“I feel like we’ve got a great bond in the squad from the very get-go, really,” he said.

“It’s a quality changing room to be a part of and I’m looking forward to spending the rest of the season here.

“I’d say I’m quite an experienced player now, so coming in and helping out in whatever way I can really.

“Whether the gaffer wants to play me higher in the midfield or deeper in the midfield, just where I’m needed…I’m putting a shift in for the boys and trying to get things ticking.

“We’ve got a really good core strength about the team now, a good spine in the team and it’s just building off that and working together and building week in, week out and hopefully trying to achieve something great.”

The talented midfielder is quickly becoming a fans’ favourite on the Ballycastle Road and he outlined how the support has been immense since the start of the campaign.

“I’ve definitely felt the excitement around the town and the little buzz about it,” he added.

“The fans have been great since I’ve come in and they really help us.

“The home games have been good, even when we played Cliftonville away, the fans really helped us there.

“With the owner, the new manager and now the new players coming in, it’s kind of like a new project feeling.

“So, hopefully we can give back to the fans who have been here the longest.”

Supporters can get tickets for tomorrow’s game HERE.