91�ȱ�

Midfielder Jamie Tomelty has left Portadown to sign for Irish Premiership rivals Coleraine.

The 29-year-old former Linfield and Dungannon Swifts player has agreed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Bannsiders.

"I've long been an admirer of Jamie as a player and I'm delighted to have him on board," said manager Oran Kearney.

"I wanted to sign him when he left Linfield but, at that time, joining Portadown was a better option for him."

Kearney is understood to have beaten off competition from a number of clubs to secure the signature of Tomelty, with whom he played at Linfield.

"He's a technically gifted player and can slot into any position in the front six with ease - he'll fit well into the style of football we like to play and it should bring the best out of him.

"The paperwork isn't complete yet, so he won't be available against Linfield on Saturday.

"He hasn't played in a few weeks because of injury, but we're hoping we can get him up to speed quickly and have him available for our Irish Cup tie on January 12," explained Kearney.