DJ in spin after loss to Carrick

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1 DARREN FULLERTON BALLYMENA UNITED boss David Jeffrey accepts he is facing the “toughest” period of his five year reign at the Showgrounds.

Jeffrey cut a lonely figure as he trudged up the sidelines after Saturday’s demoralising 2-1 defeat to 10-man Carrick Rangers at the Loughshore Arena.

The Sky Blues, with just four points from their opening six league games, led 1-0 through Jonte Smith’s 32nd minute header. But Carrick, who lost Stewart Nixon to a 33rd minute red card for a high challenge on Caolan Loughran, hit back with goals from Alex Gawne and Jordan Gibson after defensive errors.

“Simply not good enough,” was Jeffrey’s post-match reaction.

He also concedes player retention and recruitment is a lot more challenging now than when he was appointed in 2016.

The Sky Blues have lost the likes of Shay Mccartan, Kofi Balmer, Adam Lecky, Johnny Mcmurray and Albert Watson to full-time clubs in the past two years.

“This is, without any shadow of a doubt, the toughest period of my time as Ballymena manager,” said Jeffrey.

“Since I’ve been at the club, it has really been about trying to retain key players and that has been a challenge.

“A number of players have opted to move on to pursue full-time football or to bigger clubs, as they would see it, and that means we continually have to bring others in.

“Bryan Mclaughlin and I have been at Ballymena five years and this is probably the third side we are trying to put together.

“It feels like we are starting all over again and that is the frustration,” he added.

WINNER Gibson fires in a last gasp goal to seal points