Duncan Ferguson set for surprise Glentoran appointment
Glentoran are expected to confirm Duncan Ferguson as manager on Monday, a high-profile gamble after a five-week search that saw the club miss out on Tiernan Lynch and Jim Magilton.
Glentoran are expected to confirm Duncan Ferguson as their new manager on Monday, ending a five-week search that began when Declan Devine departed on 14 September. The former Scotland striker, best known for two playing spells at Everton, would become the most recognisable figure in the Irish Premiership.
The club's recruitment took several turns. Tiernan Lynch, a two-time Irish Premiership winner with Larne, was initially installed as favourite after leaving Derry City in August. Glentoran then prioritised trying to extract Jim Magilton from his Cliftonville contract, but he made clear he intended to stay at Solitude. The move towards Ferguson was described in the article as entirely unexpected.
Ferguson's appeal lies in his profile. A cult figure at Goodison Park, he also played for Rangers and Newcastle United and holds the record for the most Premier League red cards, with eight. Behind the scenes he worked as an assistant to managers including Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez and Ronald Koeman, and had two interim spells in charge at Everton. His subsequent managerial roles at Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle were not considered successful, though both came in testing circumstances.
The article frames the appointment as a gamble given Ferguson's unfamiliarity with the Irish League, while noting that his star power could bring attention comparable to the boost Damien Duff gave Shelbourne in the League of Ireland. Supporters reacted with humour on Saturday, with erroneous reports placing Ferguson everywhere from Glentoran's 1-0 win over Limavady to a chip shop on the Newtownards Road.
Glentoran have pursued a first league title since 2009 through a series of managerial changes, including Mick McDermott, Rodney McAree, Warren Feeney and Devine. Devine came close last season: a win over Larne in the penultimate game would have put the Glens top going into the final day, but a 0-0 draw was followed by a 6-2 defeat at Coleraine and a third-place finish. Ferguson inherits a squad built for Devine that the article describes as imbalanced, with an over-reliance on Jordan Stewart for creativity and limited cover for top scorer Pat Hoban. Interim boss Paddy McCourt oversaw four wins and a draw in the past five league games. Some Oval regulars may feel the club have tried almost everything else in their title quest.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
