MANAGER Roy Walker has finally confirmed the signing of Ballymoney United defender Denver Gage as the latest summer signing at Warden Street.

Walker's desire for player's who will 'play for the shirt' for next season couldn't be more appropriate as Denver a keen follower of the Sky Blues, also became a shareholder of the club last season!

No stranger to the Showgrounds, Gage along his three brothers all have come through the ranks at Ballymena and Cullybackey Blues over the years. But after failing to break through under Tommy Wright he left the club four years ago to join Joe McCall's Ballymoney United side.

It was at the Riada club that he established himself as one of the best defenders in the Championship and the Clough-based player also became the Northern Ireland Junior International captain.

"Denver is a local lad, he's from a Ballymena United supporting backgrounds and it's win-win as far as I'm concerned" Walker told the Ballymena Times.

Gage joins Coleraine's Richard Gibson and Glentoran's Ryan Berry as new arrivals at the club, following the major cull conducted by Walker.

Also on the signing front all but one of Ballymena United's Youth team which won the IFA Youth League Cup have been signed up for next season along with Reserve team star Aaron Lemon.