Coleraine are set to further boost their Premiership title hopes with former defender Charles Dunne understood to be on the cusp of returning to the Bannsiders.

Dunne departed Coleraine last summer after helping Ruaidhri Higgins’ side seal Irish Cup glory by beating Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park.

He had spent the entirety of his career in England and Scotland prior to joining the Co Londonderry club in February 2025, enjoying spells at the likes of Wycombe Wanderers, Blackpool, Motherwell and St Mirren.

The 33-year-old quickly established a reputation as one of the Irish League’s top defenders, making 48 Premiership appearances, including 32 last term as Higgins’ side finished just three points adrift of champions Larne.

Charles Dunne (left) with the Irish Cup after Coleraine's final win over Dungannon Swifts. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

placeholder image — Charles Dunne (left) with the Irish Cup after Coleraine's final win over Dungannon Swifts. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

Coleraine chief Higgins revealed the club remained in conversations to extend Dunne’s stay in Northern Ireland throughout the summer, but no deal was reached with the England-born defender keen to pursue opportunities abroad.

With a proposed summer move to India falling through, Dunne had entered talks with Irish League clubs over a possible return in recent weeks – and the News Letter understands Coleraine have now won the race ahead of their Premiership rivals.

It provides a further boost to Higgins’ side, who sit two points clear at the Premiership’s summit ahead of hosting Glentoran on Friday night – it will mark Duncan Ferguson’s first match in charge of The Oval outfit.

In an interview with the News Letter earlier this month, Dunne said: "I was waiting to go abroad but then something happened and that’s not going to happen now.

"I just wanted to try something new, I haven't played abroad so that was one of my targets before I stopped playing.

"I’m speaking to teams in Northern Ireland so I could be coming back. I really enjoyed my time there and would definitely like to come back.

"Coleraine were good to me and I didn’t want to leave, they’ve good boys there and the club's going in the right direction.

"It was a good time. We did well winning the Irish Cup, we just missed out on the league, so that was annoying, but I enjoyed my time there.

"I enjoyed my time at Coleraine, I only left because I was trying to go abroad.”

Dunne joined Coleraine in the early stages of the club’s transition to full-time football under Dean Shiels and was one one of their first statement signings of a new era.

While initially taking a step into the unknown with a move to The Showgrounds, Dunne quickly grasped just how serious the club’s project was.

"I didn't really know what was going on at the start,” added Dunne. “I came because I needed to play games, but then once I got there, spoke to Henry (Ross) and all that type of stuff, I realised that they’re not playing around.

"You want to play for a team with ambition, and full-time is what I'm used to. I enjoyed myself and the club is going in the right direction for sure.”