AFTER tying down midfield pair George Tipton and Ciaran Dobbin to new contracts last week, Ards made their first addition of the transfer window with the signing of Paul Donnelly.
A product of the Cliftonville Academy, Donnelly (22) joins the club after two-and-half years with Newington in the Championship. In that time he has been one of the Swans’ standout performers, weighing in with 17 goals across the last two seasons including scoring in a 2-2 draw against Ards in November.
Not shy of a tackle, Donnelly collected more bookings than any other player in last season’s division with 14. Ards boss John Bailie said he was delighted to add the tenacious midfielder to his panel for next year. “Paul is a player I have admired over the past few years with his enthusiasm and passion in the middle of the park.”
