Ferguson rules out Kelbie return

The rumour mill had moved into overdrive after Kelbie had said on Twitter that he “would jump at the chance” of returning to the Showgrounds, where he scored 75 goals in 179 games in a four-year spell.

Kelbie Tweeted: “I just felt like I needed a change at the time. Worst thing I ever done – why leave a place when you’re treated like a king?!”

With United’s highly-publicised lack of out-and-out strikers, a clamour quickly began among fans eager to see a return of the Scot who, since his departure from Ballymena has had largely unsuccessful stints at Greenock Morton, back in the Irish League with Glenavon and then back in Scotland with his hometown team Stirling Albion while he has been playing junior football this season.

But United boss Ferguson told Times Sport the idea of a return for Kelbie was a “non-starter”.

“I knocked it on the head back in January when I first got the initial contact.

“It’s a non-starter – we want as many locally-based players as possible.

“We also want to develop some of the younger strikers we have and we have James Costello coming back from injury.

“We know what we want at that end of the park and we’re still working on that.”

Ferguson will also be able to call upon the services of Jordan Baker after the striker’s departure “by mutual consent” took a bizarre twist last week.

It is understood that the player had believed he was going on loan to Derriaghy CC until January but changed his mind after discovering that his exit was to be a permanent one.

He was back training last week and Ferguson insists the door is not closed on a return to the first team

“Jordan had decided to go but then he found out the arrangement wasn’t what he wanted so he’s back again.

“He is contracted until the end of the season, we have had a chat with him and I have told him what he needs to do,” added Ferguson.