Ammies seal signing of Imps veteran O’Connell

SALFORD City have wrapped up their fourth addition of the January transfer window after recruiting experienced central-midfielder Michael O’Connell from Lincoln City.

The 32-year-old becomes the second player to make the switch from the Imps to the Ammies this week, following attacker Bruno Andrade in moving to the Peninsula Stadium.

O’Connell, who joins on a deal until the end of the season, departs Sincil Bank having helped Lincoln lift the League Two title last year and reach 15th in the third tier so far this campaign. The Northern Ireland international joins Graham Alexander’s side with a wealth of Football League experience – featuring over 400 times in the Championship and Leagues One and Two combined.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big ask [to achieve promotion]; we’re 12 points off the play-offs but I’ve come here with the belief that I can help the team push on.

“I’ve been around League Two; I’ve had two promotions, so I know what it takes. It’s a big decision for me to move away from Lincoln; I’ve had a good two years there winning things, but I just to want to play football.”

O’Connell revealed that a phone call with owner Gary Neville helped persuade him to drop back into the fourth tier. He said: “I spoke to Gary on the phone for a good while over the weekend so that helped.

“I still think there’s a chance we can go on a run, get in the play-offs and hopefully get promotion.”