Ervin vows to give his all to help pal King become a Carrick success as new manager

Such is the esteem in which Ervin is held within the game, the 36-year-old had choices but opted to join his former Linfield team-mate in a display of friendship that should benefit Gers in the 2021-2022 season.

Ervin told Sunday Life Sport: “Stuart and I go back a long way. He is a very close friend. When I started at Linfield, Stuart was one of the big characters in the changing room and one of the main guys who helped me settle in.

“We have always had that friendship and I have kept a close eye on what he has been doing. He worked wonders as manager of Banbridge Town and when he got the Carrick job, I had no idea what was happening with myself.

“After the news broke that I had been released, Stuarty was straight on the phone. I liked what he was telling me about his vision for the club and the route he wanted to go down and, as a good friend, I want Stuart to be a big success at Carrick and I will do everything I can to help him achieve that.”

It says much about Ervin’s quality, consistency and his personality that he left Ballymena as a fan favourite, as was the case when he departed Linfield to move to The Showgrounds in 2014.

Ervin will tell you that frustration at a lack of game time and a desire to feature week in, week out led to his transfer away from boyhood club Linfield.

On his United exit, which left many Sky Blues supporters disappointed, Ervin said he realised his future would not be with Ballymena following an end-of-season chat with manager David Jeffrey and assistant boss Bryan McLaughlin.

“I spoke to Davy and Bryan and there was no playing contract being made available to me,” he stated.

“They had something else planned in terms of getting me involved in the coaching side of things but it wasn’t what I wanted to do just now because I still feel I have football left in me and I want to keep playing as long as I can.

“I’m not going to lie, I was disappointed there was no contract offer but, at the same time, it’s football. Davy and Bryan are judged on the League table and they thought they needed to move players on, be it me or the other boys who have left.

“I wasn’t part of their plans moving forward playing-wise. That’s something I accepted and I’ll forever be grateful for working with them for the length of time that I did. There are no grudges or fall-outs or anything like that. I wished them all the best and thanked them for my time working with them.

“I was overwhelmed by all the messages of support from Ballymena fans when I left. I really appreciated that. I loved my time at the club. It was a brilliant experience.”