Glentoran confirm one of the Irish League's worst-kept secrets in Robbie McDaid update

Mick McDermott has confirmed one of the Irish League’s worst-kept secrets that Robbie McDaid will not be a Glentoran player next season.

McDaid, who has scored 71 goals in 177 appearances for the Mersey Street club, is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with a move to derby rivals Linfield.

The 25-year-old hasn’t featured for the Glens in recent weeks and McDermott told the club's YouTube channel that the player will be heading for the exit door in the summer.

Glentoran boss Mick McDermott plays down transfer link with former Linfield star

He said: “It has probably been known for a long time that Robbie will not be here next season.

“We have made multiple contract offers but Robbie has his mind made up to move elsewhere and that’s his choice at the end of a contract as with any player.”

Last month, McDermott said no player was bigger than the club, insisting: “If any player doesn’t want to be part of Glentoran, that’s fine, we move on.

“We are Glentoran football club, we’ll move on and if any player wishes to move on to another club, so be it.”

McDaid has scored 10 goals for the Big Two giants this season, his last coming in January when he bagged a brace in a 4-0 Irish Cup win over Queen’s University at The Dub.

The former Leeds United prospect helped the Glens to their last major trophy two years ago when he scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Ballymena United in the 2020 Irish Cup final.