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Crusaders full-back Stephen McBride has been transfer-listed by the north Belfast club at his own request.

Crues manager Stephen Baxter says he has "reluctantly" made the club's longest serving player available to other clubs.

The 29-year-old, who has six months remaining on his contract, has found his first-team opportunities limited this season.

McBride was signed by former Seaview boss Alan Dornan in 2002.

"We have reluctantly agreed to place Stephen on the transfer list, but we certainly don't want him to leave," explained Baxter.

"I can understand his frustration at not playing as much as he would like, but he is a very experienced and important member of this squad," he told the News Letter.

"He is anxious to be playing football and I can appreciate that, but we do not want him to leave."