Glentoran chiefs are ready to decide who’ll take up reins at Oval
GLENTORAN will finally come to a decision about the club’s new manager at a board meeting tonight.
The process has been ongoing since March when Gary Haveron was sacked but after several false starts, the east Belfast outfit are confident they are ready to cross the finish line with an announcement this week.
In recent weeks the Glens have held interviews with a number of candidates. They have included former Rangers duo Nacho Novo and Bob Malcolm, ex-Northern Ireland skipper Steve Lomas and IFA Elite Performance Coach Darren Murphy.
All will be discussed by the directors this evening prior to them making a decision about who should be offered the job.
Following Haveron’s dismissal, legendary Irish League figure Ronnie McFall returned on an interim basis.
Along with assistant Kieran Harding, he guided the team into the Europa League play-off final against Cliftonville at Solitude, where they lost 3-2.
During McFall’s time in the Oval office, the Glens approached Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree and Ards supremo Colin Nixon.
McAree opted to remain with the League Cup winners, while Nixon also decided to stay.
Novo, who played for the Glens last season, and Malcolm expressed an interest, as did onetime St Johnstone and Millwall boss Lomas and Murphy, formerly the manager at Dungannon Swifts and a well-respected player at Portadown, Glenavon, Linfield and Ballymena United.
There were suggestions this month that Lomas had pulled out of the race even though he was favoured by key directors.
Novo was considered a popular choice among supporters but he is an outsider among those making the decision.
If it comes down to a straight choice between Malcolm and Murphy, it is understood they both have supporters on the board. Sources feel that Murphy’s Irish League experience provides him with an edge.
Malcolm would like to bring in another ex-Ibrox ace, Charlie Miller, as part of his backroom team as well as a coach with Glentoran links. Murphy, too, wants someone with Glentoran DNA on his staff if successful.
Meanwhile, Ballymena confirmed yesterday’s Belfast Telegraph story that they have signed Johnny Addis from the Glens.
“He’s strong in the air, a good tackler, passer and organiser,” said boss David Jeffrey, who has also signed Ballinamallard’s Shane McGinty.