Glentoran manager Mick McDermott says he didn't want to be "awkward" and block Andrew Mitchell's departure for Coleraine during the January transfer window.
Mitchell, who has spent the past two years at The BetMcLean Oval, was poised to join the Bannsiders ahead of next season after agreeing terms with the Showgrounds club.
But the Glens permitted the 28-year-old striker to join Oran Kearney’s men on loan on Thursday with a permanent three-year year kicking in ahead of next season.
While McDermott had the option of holding onto Mitchell for the second half of the campaign, he didn’t want to stand in the way of a player who has been a “brilliant professional” during his time in East Belfast.
He said: “Andrew had agreed to go to Coleraine but he requested to go now to get games and we never wanted to be awkward with him because he was never awkward with us.
“He was one of our first signings in the (2020) January window and he’s been a brilliant professional during his time at the club.”
With Robbie McDaid, Jay Donnelly and Rory Donnelly ahead of him in the pecking order in recent times, Mitchell found first team opportunities at Glentoran limited.
The former Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts frontman made just 35 appearances and scored two goals, his last coming in a 2-0 win over Crusaders on the final day of last season.
“The reality is he’s never got a run of games his talent probably deserves,” said McDermott.
“He’s not old, he has a lot of years left in him and he’s probably got more goals in this league than any of our forwards.
“It’s down to me why he didn’t get enough playing time but he’s a great lad and person and we wish him well.”
Coleraine boss Kearney says Mitchell is keen to make up for lost time after spending the last two years largely on the periphery of Glentoran’s first team.
He said: “It's fair to say that Andrew’s move to Glentoran probably didn't work out like he wanted but he has scored a lot of goals at this level and he has a desire to make up for lost time.
“He’s had a good career in the Irish League and we believe he fits the bill in the type of player we want to bring here. We believe that we have done good business by bringing Andrew to the club.”
