Sean O’Neill jokingly likened himself to former Premier League striker Peter Odemwingie after completing an on-off-on move to former club Ballymena United late last night.
The Crusaders goalkeeper had been linked with the Braidmen for a number of days and it was thought a deal had been struck on Sunday night.
But the transfer hit the buffers on Monday afternoon only to be revived in the evening as O’Neill returned to Warden Street for a second spell.
On Twitter, O’Neill joked: “Feel like Peter Odemwingie.”
Former West Bromwich Albion striker Odemwingie famously thought he had secured a Deadline Day switch to QPR in January 2013.
The Nigerian international even drove to Loftus Road to complete the formalities, only for the transfer to fall apart at the last moment.
O’Neill, who played for Ballymena in the late-2000s, has been reunited with the Sky Blues on loan for the remainder of the season.
The 33-year-old, who has spent the past decade at Seaview, said: “I’m really looking forward to returning to Ballymena and I can’t wait to get started.
“I still believe I have a lot to offer and I’m eager to help Ballymena climb the table and target a top six finish in the Danske Bank Premiership.
“An Irish Cup tie also lies in wait on Saturday and it goes without saying it’s a competition the club wants to go deep in, so there is still plenty to play for and target in the remaining months of the season.
"I want to help Ballymena in any way I can, I'm looking forward to a new challenge and I'm raring to go."
O’Neill made 22 appearances as a young goalkeeper at Ballymena between 2007 and 2010, working under both Kenny Shiels and Tommy Wright.
He joined Dungannon Swifts in 2010 and spent a season there before earning a move to Crusaders, where he went on to win three league titles and numerous other trophies, including the Setanta Cup in 2012.
He has found his game time limited in recent times at Seaview with Johnny Tuffey establishing himself as Stephen Baxter's No1.
Having not featured for Crusaders in previous rounds of the Irish Cup, O'Neill could make his 'second debut' for Ballymena in Saturday's last-16 tie with Portstewart at the Showgrounds.
