O'Reilly released as Makouta arrives at City Calling Stadium

Longford Town boss Tony Cousins has made two more changes to his squad on the eve of Saturday's Premier Division clash with Galway United – French midfielder Gaius Makouta joins from Crétil-Lusitanos FC while Danny O'Reilly has departed the City Calling Stadium.

Following on from the signing of centre-back Yann Mvita Nkelu earlier this month, Makouta becomes the second Frenchman to join the Midlanders as Cousins rolls the dice in his attempt to get Longford off the bottom of the Premier Division table. The 19 year old is immediately available for Saturday's game against Galway.

Meanwhile, O'Reilly departs Longford having signed for Cousins at the start of the 2016 season. The 21 year old defender made ten appearances, two as a substitute, in all competitions but hadn't featured in the matchday squad for the Town's last two league games. His last appearance came in the 4-3 defeat to Dundalk at Oriel Park where he played the full match.

“Danny O'Reilly has been released by Longford Town to pursue new opportunities,” read a press release from the club. “LTFC manager Tony Cousins thanked Danny for his contribution during his time and wished him well for the future. Best wishes from everybody at The City Calling Stadium.”

A tweet from the Longford Town twitter account added that O'Reilly had been released by “mutual consent.” However, the player himself denied this in a tweet of his own, which read: “Wasn't released [by] mutual consent, think you need to change that ASAP.”

O'Reilly joins veteran defender Mark Rossiter in being released, while midfielder John McKeown has signed for Drogheda United and striker Josh O'Hanlon has returned to Bournemouth after his loan spell ended. In their stead, alongside Makouta and Mvita Nkelu, have come goalkeeper Ryan Coulter from Athlone Town and striker Eddie D'sane from Fleetwood Town.