Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
EASTERN PROMISE
Smyth vows to put pride back into sleeping giants
NEW Glentoran boss Gary Smyth has ordered his players to restore pride in the shirt and ease away from the dropzone after Ronnie Mcfall fell on his sword yesterday.
Mcfall (inset) called time on his 11-month tenure – and second spell – in The Oval hotseat after a dismal winless run of 11 games in all competitions.
Saturday’s 4-2 home defeat to Dungannon
Swifts made it 10 league games without a win – the worst run in the club’s 137year history.
Mcfall leaves the East Belfast club lying ninth in the Premiership and teetering on the brink of a relegation dogfight.
And former Glens defender Smyth, assisted by fellow fans favourite Paul Leeman, is now tasked with reviving the club’s fortunes in the second half of the season.
“It’s a huge challenge, but one I’m looking forward to,” said Smyth.
“I didn’t see it coming and it’s a shock. It wasn’t Ronnie’s fault or whoever else, but it’s important we start winning games again.
“That has to happen quickly because the table doesn’t lie and as things stand we are in a relegation battle. It’s our job now to get a bit of stability and instill some confidence. “Hopefully we see a reaction because if we don’t we’re in big trouble.”
It is now more than two months since the Glens last celebrated a victory – a penalty shootout win over Coleraine in the third round of the League Cup on October 30. The Glentoran board thanked Mcfall for his “hard work and commitment over the past 11 months” and wished “he and his wife Anne all the very best for the future. “Ronnie, both as player and manager, has played a very important role in the history of Glentoran football club. He and Anne will always be very welcome at The Oval.” Glentoran’s next game is a tough Irish Cup tie at in-form Crusaders tomorrow. Smyth said: “If we did get a win on Saturday, it would lift a cloud from the club and would definitely instill confidence.”