Declan Devine has left his position as manager of Glentoran with immediate effect. The club confirmed the news in a statement released on Monday evening, ending a tenure that began in March 2024.
Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann have now assumed responsibility for first-team affairs on a temporary basis. The change comes with Glentoran eighth in the Premiership, having taken seven points from their opening six matches.
A long association ends
Devine’s connection to the east Belfast club spanned more than three decades. He first arrived as a goalkeeper, making 38 appearances across two seasons. His final game in a Glentoran shirt was the 1996 Irish Cup final victory over Glenavon.
He returned to The Oval as manager last year with a clear goal. “Managing Glentoran has been a tremendous honour,” Devine said in the club’s statement. “I returned with one ambition and that was to bring success back to this Club.”
Silverware and near misses
That ambition yielded some tangible progress. Devine guided the team to victory in the County Antrim Shield, securing his place in club history by winning silverware as both a player and a manager. He also led Glentoran to consecutive BetMcLean Cup finals, though both were lost after extra time.
Under his leadership, the club also returned to European competition. Owner Ali Pour acknowledged Devine’s commitment in the farewell statement. “Declan has poured his heart and soul into Glentoran and I want to place on record my sincere appreciation for everything he has given to this football club,” Pour said.
Current form prompts change
The decision follows a difficult start to the new Premiership campaign. Recent results show just one win in the last five league outings, a sequence that includes a 1-1 home draw with Bangor last Friday. That result left Glentoran nine points adrift of early leaders Coleraine.
You can review the team’s recent results and upcoming schedule on our fixtures page. The full squad list is also available on the squad section of the site.
Sporting Director Paul Millar will now work with the interim coaching team of McCourt and McCann to prepare for the next challenge. The immediate focus shifts to an away trip to face Crusaders on December 19th. Crusaders currently sit one place above Glentoran in seventh, setting up a significant early-season clash. The team’s current standings position shows the need for a swift turnaround.
Read the full report at Glentoran FC
Owner Ali Pour confirmed the pressure on Declan Devine before his departure. "Decky has had the biggest budget of any manager. This is his squad, every single player he has hand-picked, so the pressure is on," Pour said. The Glens have since lost 1-2 to Coleraine, leaving them 12 points behind the leaders. Midfielder Greg Sloggett, who debuted in the 1-1 draw with Bangor, urged unity. "We will come through this together," said the 30-year-old. The team now sits eighth with a record of 2W-1D-4L.
