Q Radio Sport
Linfield defender Josh Robinson has ended speculation about his future by signing for Larne.
He'll move to Inver Park when his current deal with David Healy's men expires at the end of July.
The 27-year-old had been linked with a number of clubs including Glentoran and his old team, Crusaders.
Former Rangers youth team player Robinson left Seaview to spend a season with York City.
On returning to Northern Ireland in 2017, he famously signed for both the Blues and the Crues.
The IFA had to step in and issued this statement at the time:
"The Irish FA received Standard Professional Contract forms for Josh Robinson from both Linfield FC (7:56pm) and Crusaders FC (10:56pm) yesterday evening.
"Having considered the documentation received from both clubs, and based upon Irish FA regulations regarding priority of registrations, the Irish FA can confirm that the player is successfully registered with Linfield FC."
Three years later, his arrival in East Antrim comes days after the departure of another central defender, Chris Ramsey.
Transfer news: Larne have announced the signing of Josh Robinson. The 27-year-old defender will move to Inver Park when his three-year stint at Linfield finishes at the end of this month. Pic: Larne FC. pic.twitter.com/4Sm2EZ9cUC
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 7, 2020
Larne boss Tiernan Lynch has told the club website he's delighted to have Robinson on board:
“We’re delighted that Josh chose Larne because there were a lot of clubs interested in him.
“I think it speaks volumes now when you talk to players and tell them what our plans are that they want to come here.
“Josh is a lad who seems to be a born winner. He’s won titles at Linfield and Crusaders and he now has decided to come to Larne.”
Robinson was a star performer at the back as the Blues took the title last year - and did damage at the other end too:
🎥 .@OfficialBlues NINE clear after 1-0 v Ballymena great header by @Josh_Robinson11 moments after shaking woodwork with 25-yard thunderbolt! Shot, JR: “Thankfully it doesn’t go 50 yards over, gave me a boost to score goal” But will they talk more about his shot than the goal?!.. pic.twitter.com/kANLInbPMV
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 23, 2019
Now it's time for a new chapter.
The east Belfast man said: “It was a long wait with the pandemic and everything else, so I’m delighted to be here and put pen to paper.
“I’m close friends with Andrew Mitchell (Larne midfielder/ex-Linfield) and he told me bits and pieces about what the club were doing, and I didn’t actually believe it.
“I then met with Tiernan and Seamus Lynch and it hit me that what he was saying was true. What the club are doing and what they are trying to do going forward is exciting.
“If the pandemic hadn’t happened I think Larne could and would have finished higher than sixth last season, so there is a good opportunity to try to build on that."
Larne were on a roll when their first season back in the top flight finished prematurely in March due to Covid-19.
An impressive run of form this year included January victories against both of Belfast's Big Two.