Ballinamallard United manager Whitey Anderson has further strengthened his backroom team with the addition of Loughgall manager Noel Mitchell. Anderson lost assistant manager Brian Khan at the end of the season, Khan having been part of Anderson’s management team for the past seven years, but he has moved quickly to fill the void. John Quinn has already returned to the club after a spell with Dergview and he will also be joined in the dugout next year by Mitchell.

Ballinamallard United manager Whitey Anderson has further strengthened his backroom team with the addition of Loughgall manager Noel Mitchell. Anderson lost assistant manager Brian Khan at the end of the season, Khan having been part of Anderson’s management team for the past seven years, but he has moved quickly to fill the void. John Quinn has already returned to the club after a spell with Dergview and he will also be joined in the dugout next year by Mitchell.

Mitchell brings with him a wealth of experience as a coach not only at club level but also as an international coach of women’s development teams with the Irish FA.

Noel’s most recent role in club management was at Championship One Loughgall who he steered to safety having joined in January when they were in serious trouble at the halfway point of the campaign.

Anderson is pleased to have the former Glentoran and Ards defender on board for the new season.

“I am absolutely delighted to bring Noel on board at Ballinamallard. I have known him for a long time, he’s a fellow Cookstown man, and he has a reputation as one of the best coaches around. Noel’s experience as a manager will be invaluable to me, and the fact that he is new to the club and to the players will bring a fresh perspective which I think will be helpful.

“With John Quinn having come back from Dergview I am very fortunate to be in the position now where I have two highly experienced and qualified coaches in my backroom team so soon after losing Brian Khan. And with Steve Feeney now having a year under his belt as a player/coach, I am very confident we will have the strength in depth on the bench as well as on the pitch to face the challenges ahead next season,” he said.

Anderson also conformed that goalkeeping coach Willie Neary had agreed to stay on in the role.

“I’m very pleased that Willie has agreed to stay on as I know he was considering his position due to work commitments. Goalkeeping coach is a vital part of the coaching structure and, with the recent changes in my backroom team, it’s important to me with his experience of three seasons in the Premiership that Willie stays and keeps some continuity into next season. He is an invaluable source of advice to me and is popular with the keepers and the rest of the squad.

I am also delighted to confirm that Nicky Kilpatrick and Roger Haveron, two men with many years combined experience at the club, will be my kit men next season.”