It’s now or never in City’s quest for the great escape

NEWRY City have entered the last chance saloon to stay in the Sports Direct Premiership but if they lose to Carrick Rangers tonight and Ballymena United avoid defeat against Glenavon, the border club will be on their way out.

It’s been a difficult season for the Showgrounds side. The truth is it was always going to be following Darren Mullen’s departure at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Mullen is a Newry legend for what he achieved in a decade in charge, taking the club from the Mid Ulster Intermediate B League to the top flight of Northern Ireland football.

He finished his reign by keeping City up against the odds with his assistant Gary Boyle taking over.

Following a 4-0 defeat to Glenavon on Boxing Day, Boyle stepped away with Newry at the bottom of the table having won just three times in 23 League games.

As a club, togetherness has been key at Newry on their way up the ranks in recent times so it was interesting to note that Boyle cited hostility towards himself and his team from a section of the club’s support as the reason behind his decision.

In January, there was fresh hope for Newry’s cause when Barry Gray left Warrenpoint Town to take over at their derby rivals.

Gray often inspired the Milltown men to punch above their weight and, along with his time as Cliftonville boss, had experience of what is needed in the Premiership.

While there were some improvements in performance, results continued to be hard to come by with a 1-0 victory away to Carrick in March the highlight.

One month later, Gray stepped away from his role as boss after the club revealed he had been undergoing cancer treatment for a number of weeks.

Never afraid to tell it how it is, Gray is a popular figure in Irish League football and more important than any game of football will be his recovery. Everyone wishes Barry well with that.

Off the pitch and on it, this has been one testing campaign for Newry, now being led on an interim basis by Gavin Dykes, with relegation not far away.

With three games left, they are five points behind Ballymena who have a vastly superior goal difference.

What that means is if Newry are defeated at home to Carrick tonight and the Sky Blues grab at least a draw versus Glenavon, City will finish bottom.

Newry entertain Ballymena on Saturday so they have to try to keep their hopes alive until then in order to put some pressure on Jim Ervin’s side and potentially take the relegation scrap to the final weekend.

The only other way they’ll have a reprieve is if Dundela win the Championship.

Should that happen — and because the east Belfast side aren’t in a position to go up — the bottom team in the Premiership would then face a Playoff against the second tier runners-up rather than automatic relegation.

There’s too many ifs and buts with that scenario. Somehow, Newry have to try and save themselves.