‘We are heading in the right direction’

COLERAINE defender Aaron Traynor insists signing a new deal with the club was an easy decision…

The full-back put pen-to-paper on a two-year extension that ties him down to the club until the end of the 2022/23 season.

The 30-year-old – who has made 88 appearances for the club since joining from Warrenpoint Town in May 2017 – believes the club is heading in the right direction.

“I’m happy to sign a new deal and it was an easy decision when we are doing well, competing for trophies and playing in Europe,” he continued.

“The club is heading in the right direction and I want to be a part of that. I’m really enjoying my time here, so it was a no brainer for me.

“I see my long-term future here and I would happily see out my career at Coleraine, but I might not get another year on top of the three left on my deal!

“I feel in recent years I have looked after myself more as I would like to play as long as possible.”

Traynor – who missed the majority of the 2018/19 season with an ACL injury –  thinks he is finally returning to his best form that saw him being named in the Team of the Season during 2017/18.

“I remember Adam Mullan and Stephen O’Donnell being sent-off against Ballymena and that allowed me back in,” he added.

“Oran approached me about playing against Crusaders and we won 4-2 that day and it set me up for the rest of the season.

“Not many people know this but the knee doesn’t feel the same as it did before the injury, so I have a bit of work to do on that front, but last season couldn’t have went much better.

“Our defensive record has been one of the best in the league in recent years and we as a team should be proud of that.

“Unfortunately our defensive unit lost Chris Johns but I have full faith that Gareth or Marty will be able to fill in and continue where we left off.

Traynor was brought to the club by Oran Kearney and he heaped praise on his boss, as well as previewing Thursday night’s Europa League clash against La Fiorita.

“Oran has been a massive influence on my career, he’s brilliant and is fantastic both on and off the pitch,” he stated.

“I am lost for words to describe the aura he has about him but he sets his standards high and is approachable on a personal level.

“We will go into Thursday night’s game all guns blazing and we are looking forward to it.

“We know there is a potential trip to Maribor but we can’t look too far ahead. It is just a shame we won’t have our fans in attendance as they help us.”

The Stripes have been busy adding to their squad as Gareth Deane, Ronan Wilson, Evan Tweed and Curtis Allen have all joined the club, and Traynor insists the new faces have been welcomed.

“Curtis was already here on loan but with COVID-19, he didn’t play as much as he would have liked, so that’s like a new signing,” he concluded.

“Evan, Ronan and Gareth add competition for places and the new faces are great to see as the level of training has already increased.

“The extra quality is going to be needed as there are a lot of good teams in the league.”