Ballymena United have announced that manager David Jeffrey has signed a new two year extension that will keep him at the helm of the Showgrounds club until 2023.

Assistant manager Bryan McLoughlin has also penned a similar extension to continue the successful partnership between the two.

Jeffrey told the official Ballymena United website; “This has been a story in waiting, simply because given all that is going on currently there hasn't really been an appropriate time for it to be revealed. However, now it is in public it is lovely to be able to confirm we have agreed to a two-year extension and are very much delighted to do so.”

Despite a disappointing season which has seen United drop to tenth in the Danske Bank Premiership before the suspension of all football – Jeffrey has presided over a golden period in the club’s history, ending the long wait for a major trophy with the 2017 League Cup and progressing in Europe for the first time.

The contract extension leaves the former Linfield chief in line to become the Sky Blues’ longest serving manager later this year.

United Chairman John Taggart stated via the club website; "We're delighted to have extended the contracts between David, Bryan and Ballymena United. What they have achieved to date has exceeded expectations and now we can look forward to further success in the years to come.”