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Roy O'Donovan is teaming up with Joe Gamble in Brunei after terminating his Northampton Town contract on Friday.

The ex-Cork City and Sunderland striker had 18-months to run on his deal but, amid an injury-hit season, wasn't in the plans of new Cobblers boss Chris Wilder.

O'Donovan had already tested the waters with his new employers, DPMM, after going out to Brunei last month to investigate their interest further.

Yet while his former Rebels team-mate and good pal Gamble stayed on, O'Donovan said 'thanks, but no thanks' to ex-Blackburn boss Steve Kean and returned to England.

But with Northampton having signed four new strikers, O'Donovan knew his days were numbered under Wilder so he thought 'what the hell' and hit the road.

"It's a really exciting adventure," he told Mirror Sport on Friday. "I'm heading over there on Monday and I can't wait for it as I loved the place last month.

"I said no initially because I felt, at 28, I was too young to turn my back on English football - but a new manager coming in at Northampton changed things.

"I loved playing under Aidy Boothroyd but when he was sacked (days before Christmas), I felt it was a good time to move on and now I can't wait."

DPMM are owned by the Crown Prince of Brunei but play their football in Singapore's 'S League' - so O'Donovan and Gamble will hit the skies for all their away games.

"It's a club on the up," he added. "The owner is the prince so he's in it for the long haul. He's not going anywhere else, unlike an investor who might plough money in and then leave all of a sudden.

"It's a lovely place too, albeit a bit different from what I'm used to! It's a Muslim country so there's no nightlife culture whatsoever - no pubs or clubs.

"But you have all the usual brands and coffee shops in the malls and if you've been to Dubai before, that'll give you a feel for what it's like.

"It's a different culture, a different world but an adventure I have to take at this time in my life because it's something I probably couldn't do with children."

O'Donovan's wife, Ellen, is moving with him and he admits having Gamble already on site was a big factor in making the switch to such an unusual spot.

"It does help, of course, but all the players have great English, the manager obviously does, the facilities are superb and the club is well supported," he said.

"It should also suit my style of football as it's all played on the ground over there. Some managers I've had were more interested in playing rugby.

"I've been dreadfully unlucky with injuries and also with managers who had faith in me losing their jobs at important junctures in my career but hopefully that changes in Brunei with Steve Kean."

Lured to Sunderland from Cork City by Roy Keane in 2007, O'Donovan has played - mostly on loan - for seven other clubs in England and Scotland.

Dundee United, Blackpool, Southend, Hartlepool, Coventry, Hibs and Northampton to be precise.

He added: "I've signed with DPMM for one-year and we'll see how it goes. It will be different, but hopefully good different."