Cherry Orchard have become the latest Irish Schoolboy club to link up with a major club in England. It was announced over the weekend that Orchard are to link up with Manchester City and the deal is expected to be completed today.

The deal will allow City first choice of Cherry Orchard's players and in return Orchard will get coaching and financial backing from the Maine Road club.

Joe Royle and City's academy director, Jim Cassell, will be amongst the City party who will fly to Dublin today to sign the deal, which first came to light several months ago following the Blues' signing of youngster William Flood, which was followed by the acquisition of Stephen Paisley.

The link between City and Cherry Orchard will be of great benefit to both clubs, especially as City had to pay £38,000 in compensation to Stoke earlier this summer for 11-year-old Richard Minor after the youngster had signed a four-year deal with the Blues after leaving the Potters.