Henry Ross' investment in Coleraine has helped the club move into an exciting new chapter, but Dean Shiels says the majority shareholder has brought more to the club than just finances.
Ross hit the headlines earlier this season when he became one of the youngest owners in football following his purchase of the controlling stake in the Bannsiders.
The 24-year-old has helped Shiels recruit several of the club's long-term targets during the January transfer window, but the Coleraine boss insists Ross has contributed so much more at The Showgrounds beside that.
"Henry's been brilliant, he's been a breath of fresh air," said Shiels. "He's so enthusiastic and been so engaged from the day he walked in.
"He's really connecting with the local community, he's big on that, he's taken in lots of meetings with different people in the area and organisations in the area.
"He's really a joy to work with. Obviously, he understands where we're at, he understands the plan, the direction in which we're going, and I think he's been super so far."
After moving to a full-time model in the summer Shiels admitted their recruitment were "rushed". Six months later they have managed to bring some of their main targets to the club ahead of time.
Ronan Doherty, Levi Ives, Declan McManus, Paddy Burns and Charles Dunne have signed on much to the delight of Shiels with more planned ahead of next season.
"We were in such a rush in the summer in regards to making the transition," explained Shiels. "The recruitment is difficult and sometimes it doesn't always work out the way you want.
"The ones we brought in are under contract so there's the element that the selling club or the call that holds their registration if they don't want to let them go then that doesn't happen
"We're really lucky that we managed to get some of our long-term targets in the door in January which we're delighted with.
"It wasn't just that these players popped up and we went for them. Declan McManus and Charles Dunne we tried to sign in the summer
"Olly Doherty is a signing that this club has tried to sign for possibly a couple of years. There's always been an admiration for Olly in that regard.
"Levi is one that, if he becomes available, and his contract was expiring, then you try and do it. We looked to do something for the summer but then we escalated it to do it in this window
"We'll look to do the same going forward in the summer. There's definitely already plans in place for that.
"That's the plan – to keep progressing each window. We're not just arriving into the summer thinking what do we do now?
"There is structure behind the recruitment and there's a lot of hours, a lot of scouting and detail that goes into the recruitment.
"I think you just can't arrive at each window and then be reactive about what's happening or who's available. I think there has to be a measured plan in place."
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