David Jeffrey delighted to extend his stay at Ballymena United

The management duo joined the Sky Blues in 2016 with the club winning the League Cup a year later.

Jeffrey spoke of his delight at signing the new deal, which will see him become the club's longest serving manager.

"This season really started where we left off last year, with just a few weeks break we were right back at it, progressing in Europe and everything that brought with it," Jeffrey told the club website.

"We'll be the first to admit that after that it has been horrible - there's no point saying otherwise.

"Although this has been a challenging season, and too many weekends Bryan, I and the players have gone home unhappy, we also have to consider the journey we have been on the last four years.

"There will always be down days, but particularly at these times I have a simple saying 'look after those who look after you - loyalty is everything', and that is a two way street.

"We have always said that we are here to serve, and will be here and want to be here as long as the club want us. We are extremely privileged and blessed to be Sky Blue."

McLaughlin echoed Jeffrey's sentiments saying: "I'm delighted that we are extending our stay. We take a significantly high level of pride in our work, and this is a great club and a place to match that.

"We want to represent the good people of Ballymena and do the town proud - through good times and bad we've never had as much as a thought of going anywhere else. Obviously this season has been frustrating, but it's just one down part against four great years.

"This extension is a clear message from the club, and to have that boost publicly just rekindles that energy to get back into winning ways.

"This club endeavours to be the best in a very competitive league and we are delighted the they want us to stay and continue to lead it."

Chairman John Taggart said the club were keen to tie the men down to the Sky Blues.

"At a time where football has quite rightly taken a back seat, clubs nonetheless still must continue to meet financial obligations minus their usual sources of income.

"The strong financial footing that the club is currently in is in no small way attributable to the achievements of David and Bryan through their success over the last four years.

"Unprecedented successive top six Premiership finishes, three European ties, our first senior Trophy in nearly 30 years and our highest league position in almost 40 years - it's not hard to see why we were keen to secure the services of two men who would otherwise certainly be sought after elsewhere."