Scannell headlines latest round of new deals
by Rory McKee
r.mckee@ardschronicle.co.uk
ARDS have been boosted by news that three players have agreed to extend their stays at the club.
Playmaker Eamon Scannell and full-back Max Greer will remain in red and blue next season after both signing one-year contract extensions, while goalkeeper Marc Matthews has penned a two-year deal with Ards upon the expiry of his contact at Glenavon.
Scannell, 26, is just two games shy of reaching 150 appearances for the club and last season found the net 11 times as Ards recorded a fifth-placed NIFL Championship finish and made it to the semi-finals of the Irish Cup.
That the former Portadown and Linfield man has furthered his stay will be particularly pleasing for supporters and staff alike, given that last season’s leading goalscorer Aidan Steele has departed the club to join Carrick Rangers in the Premiership.
Max Greer was one of Ards’ most consistent performers last term in a breakout season for the attack-minded right-back, and the ex-Larne Academy product has also committed his future to the club. So too has ’keeper Marc Matthews, who made 25 appearances in 2024/25 on loan from Glenavon. Matthews, 22, will now make his stay at the club a permanent one.
Ards chairman Warren Patton told the Chronicle: “There has been a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes. We felt we did very well last year, but keeping the backbone of the current squad is very important.
“We’ve built a good changing room and will not be rushing into any signings which upset that. Talks with other members of the squad will continue over the coming days and weeks.”
Patton also paid tribute to the departing Kyle Calderwood, whose time at the club came to an end last week. “Kyle will definitely be missed by everyone. He was a big part of the team and the club and fought very hard, both mentally and physically, to come back from his injury. I want to wish Kyle the best in his football journey and he’ll always be welcome back at Ards.”
