THE TRANSFER window has come to a close around Europe and there has been no shortage of activity at the Warden Street Showgrounds this January.

Lisburn Distillery defender PAUL MUIR became the first signing of the January window when Roy Walker brought the Ahoghill based defender back the Showgrounds just under a decade after leaving the club. 33-year-old, Paul, made his debut under Alan Fraser back in April 1995 and went onto make 171 appearances for the Sky Blues in his first spell at the club. He joined Crusaders in 1999 and then moved to Lisburn Distillery in 2003 before returning to Ballymena on an 18-month contract. He made his second debut for the club last week against Newry City and marked his return to Warden Street with a spectacular free-kick against Dungannon Swifts.

A few days later young talent MICHAEL SMITH joined from Ballyclare Comrades on an 18-month deal. The young full-back was a long term target of Roy Walker’s and had been attracting interested from Linfield and Glenavon. The 20-year-old Ballyclare based defender had been getting rave reviews at Dixon Park which led to Ballymena tabling a £5,000 bid for the player. He went straight into the team against Dungannon Swifts last week impressing supporters with his work-rate and skill.

In an attempt to bolster Ballymena's attacking options Walker made a surprise loan signing of Harland & Wolff Welders frontman COLIN MAGILL. The 29-year-old striker who has formerly played for Linfield and Crusaders has been brought in to ease the workload of Kevin Kelbie with Neil Teggart and Michael Ward both out injured. Colin has only scored twice this season for the Welders and joins on a month’s loan.

Finally, Walker has brought 24-year-old Ballymena born defender ROSS HANDFORD to the club from UUC. The talented defender and former Ballymena Academy student has never played for his local club and has had spells in the Irish League with Crusaders and Carrick Rangers. Injury has hampered him over the last few years, as he played for the University of Ulster in Coleraine, where he also studied.

The only departure of the January transfer window is that of reserve team striker DARYL BRAMMELD who joins Amateur League side Sirocco Works. Daryl was signed from Glentoran by Tommy Wright but failed to break into the first team at the Braid.