Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Backlash – as fans have say over Donnelly
SEVEN weeks ago, Mick Mcdermott was basking in the glow of leading Glentoran to Irish Cup glory at Windsor Park.
Fast forward 49 days and the Oval boss is in the middle of a media firestorm surrounding a decision to bring Jay Donnelly to East Belfast.
Mcdermott (below) will have anticipated fallout from Wednesday’s confirmation that the 25-year-old had signed for the Mersey Street club.
But one suspects neither Mcdermott nor the Glentoran board could have predicted the degree of outrage and displeasure voiced.
Glentoran’s Facebook post confirming Donnelly’s arrival attracted more than 900 comments, many of them negative.
One fan said she was “heartbroken” while another added: “I am actually ashamed to be a Glentoran supporter today.”
One longtime fan wrote: “I’ve followed for over 50 years and although it will break my heart, I will be returning my season ticket.”
Glens supporter Tim Cairns, a former DUP special advisor and now a political commentator, branded the move a “PR disaster”.
He said: “Glentoran has always prided itself on being a family club and I fear that image has been blemished.”
Donnelly served a three month prison sentence for distributing an indecent image of a child.
Cliftonville – his club at the time – sacked the player, while the IFA charged him with bringing the game into disrepute and suspended him from playing until September, 2019.
Donnelly has been sent back on loan to Belfast Celtic until January and it remains to be seen how the Glens navigate their way through the backlash.
Mcdermott, a key driver behind owner Ali Pour’s takeover of the club last year, insists the fallout won’t derail the Glens upward trajectory.
He said: “Was I expecting criticism? Yes. Do I think this has the potential to destabilise what we’ve built over the last 18 months? Absolutely not.
“We’ll deal with the criticism but believe that over time the criticism – when people get to know Jay and see what he can do for our team – will wane.”