Colin Coates sensational summer took another twist last night.

The Crusaders captain was on a high at the end of last season when he lifted the Irish Cup — his first medal in senior football.

It is looking increasingly unlikely that Coates will be wearing red and black when the new campaign kicks off though.

While speculative enquiries have been made and numerous telephone calls received by Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter, a cross-channel move for Coates loomed closer last night with a formal bid being placed for the player.

Leeds United are understood to be the club who have put the offer on the table and although two other clubs are understood to have made firm enquiries, the Yorkshire outfit have stolen a march on those interested in signing Coates.

It is another chapter in an amazing story which now surrounds Coates — even if it is a relatively short one.

A month after leading the Shore Road men to cup glory, the 23-year-old was in dreamland when Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington — who had been present at Windsor Park when the Crues beat Cliftonville 1-0 in the cup decider — handed him an international debut.

It was a little bit more than just a first cap though as it came against Italy in Pisa and while there were only two members of the World Cup winning team from 2006 on the pitch, it won’t say that in the record books.

Now, with Coates a week away from leading the Crues into a Europa League tie against Rabonicki of Macedonia, a first appearance in Europe may be taken away from him — but the defender won’t complain one little bit.

Swapping the Shore Road for Elland Road and a battle to take the club back into the second tier of English football after two seasons in League One would make up for that.

Ironically the Crues have already printed their match programme for next Tuesday’s first leg at Mourneview Park, with Coates on the front of it, lifting the Irish Cup.

That looks increasingly like being his last act as a Crusaders player. If that’s the case it will be a fitting send-off.