Curtis Allen looking forward to getting back to scoring goals again

Allen joins the Bannsiders initially on loan from Glentoran until the end of the season, but has already signed a two-year deal which will kick in at the end of this current campaign.

It brings to an end his six-year spell at The Oval, during which he found the net a fantastic 110 times.

Speaking on his return to The Showgrounds on Saturday the 31-year -old said he was disappointed to leave the club, but said there was no ill-feeling.

"I think you're always disappointed to leave any club," said Allen.

"I'd obviously been there a long time, they were a great club to me and the fans were brilliant to me.

"But that's football. I had a chat with 'Windy' and Mick the other night and they sort of indicated about possibly going somewhere.

"I wasn't happy obviously as they had said I was in the plans but I understood that is football.

"There's no hard feelings, I've never left any club with ill feelings, it's not the type of character that I am.

"I went down and seen the lads on Saturday morning before they went off to play Queen's and I saw Windy and Mick and they wished me all the best.

"For me it's about looking after myself.

"Yes I had a fantastic time at Glentoran and I thank all the staff, the fans and the people who were there, but it's the right time to move on and it's a new challenge at Coleraine and I can't wait to get started.

"I'm delighted to be back. It's all been a bit of a whirlwind. I knew Coleraine had put a letter in about the possibility of coming here for next season.

"Then Oran contacted me on Friday night to see what I thought.

"Initially I said no, it had nothing to do with the club it was just that I feel that I'm not overly fit at the minute.

"I didn't want to come half measured. Oran said he understood as I have only played 15 minutes in the last five months.

"I have been training the last couple of weeks and I feel good, but the key thing is playing games and I need to build on that to make sure I don't break down again.

"Oran said he understood that and that the club would look after me.

"I'm not cup tied for any of the competitions and also there is a big run-in for the league and he said if I could come in and contribute and put the ball in the net I could have a big say in it for us.

"Everything he said to me was what I wanted to hear, he didn't need to sell the club to me at all.