Tomas Cosgrove felt Tiernan Lynch didn't even want to sign him after the pair's first meeting.
It was in the summer of 2018 that Cosgrove swapped Cliftonville for Inver Park, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Larne are still celebrating after clinching their first Premiership title, with Cosgrove becoming the club's first captain to ever raise the famous Gibson Cup.
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His name is now written in the Invermen's proud history books, but the 30-year-old admits the initial vibes off boss Lynch weren't very encouraging five years ago.
"See to be honest here, it was Seamus (Lynch) who got it over the line. When I spoke to Tiernan it was as if he didn't even want me here," Cosgrove said.
"I think he was playing bad cop. I went out of the meeting and said to Marty (Donnelly), 'Is he serious?'.
"It was just the way he spoke. But I know that's the way Tiernan gets on.
"Kenny (Bruce) sold everything to me. What was happening and what was going on around the place.
"It was great. I had only finished the Irish Cup with Cliftonville and straight into training with Larne. So it got the ball rolling.
"A lot of new boys were coming in at the time, like Jeff Hughes. And all the boys made me feel at home."
Cosgrove always envisaged seeing out his career with Cliftonville, but he says his future at Solitude became increasingly uncertain under the management of Barry Gray.
"Looking back now, I always thought I would finish my career at Cliftonville. I never wanted to leave, there was just a falling out," he said.
"I wasn't seeing eye to eye with Barry Gray and the way he wanted to play didn't suit the way I wanted to play, and I took a chance.
"You had everyone call you this and that (after joining Larne), but deep down everyone knew what was going on. And when you win things, then it proves the doubters wrong.
"You proved you were able to seal the deal for Larne by winning the league."
The significant investment by Larne owner Kenny Bruce saw Cosgrove and many other high-profile signings labelled 'mercenaries' back in 2018.
The club were wedged in the Championship at the time, but it was Bruce's vision that appealed to the then Reds full-back, and other marquee names such as Marty Donnelly, Davy McDaid and Jeff Hughes who all joined the Inver revolution.
"I remember Marty Donnelly had a falling out with Barry Gray and I knew I was leaving. A few clubs were talking to me but I didn't really want to leave Cliftonville," Cosgrove said.
"But Marty persuaded me, and I knew Tiernan and Seamus who brought me to Cliftonville when I was younger. I spoke to them and took a chance, and everything was justified by winning the league."
He added: "Wearing the captain's armband makes it special. Just because I have been there from the start makes it more special.
"When I moved to Larne people were saying you're only going for this and that, and calling you a mercenary. Saying they hope you win nothing.
"Now we are over the line, nobody can take that away from you."
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