Despite entering the season with high hopes following their best points total under owner Ali Pour, Glentoran are grappling with a significant slump. The optimism that surrounded the club after a prolific debut season from striker Pat Hoban and the European impresssions of defender Zeno Ibsen Rossi has been replaced by frustration.
This shift in mood was evident on Saturday when fans booed players off the pitch following a 1-1 stalemate against Bangor at the Oval. First-team coach Tim McCann described the recent displays as “totally unacceptable” and urged players to assume greater accountability.
“Players have to start taking accountability because they’re getting well paid to play at a football club that is one of the biggest in Ireland,” McCann stated. “To play for this club, you need courage… Right now, there is not too many of them.”
McCann emphasized that the issue lies with performance rather than management. While he accepted his share of responsibility, he insisted the onus is on the squad to rise to the occasion. “It’s time for players on that pitch to stand up and be counted… Whether we’re here or we’re not here, six managers down the line, it doesn’t really matter,” he said.
Manager Declan Devine, who was made permanent in April 2024, has overseen the winning of the County Antrim Shield but has yet to challenge for the league title, the club’s first since 2009. Owner Ali Pour, who acquired 95% of the club in 2019, noted that over 80 new players have been signed during his tenure, yet the team has failed to secure a top-two finish or achieve financial success in Europe.
Pour, who attended the Bangor match, highlighted that Devine has operated with the largest budget in the squad’s history and personally selected every player. “Decky knows the expectation of silverware and the facts are facts,” Pour told BBC Radio Ulster.
Regarding Devine’s position, Pour revealed they had spoken that morning. “He said, ‘Ali, if I thought I can’t pull this off, I will be having a chat with you, shake hands and I’m gone.’ He’s a man of honour and integrity.”
With patience wearing thin among supporters, the upcoming fixture against Coleraine on Tuesday serves as a critical test for both the team and the manager’s future.
Coleraine game is definitely make-or-break. If they lose that, expect fireworks at the Oval next week.
Wow, over 80 new players and no top-two finish? That’s a lot of turnover for so little reward.
McCann is right. High wages demand high accountability. The lack of courage on the pitch is worrying.
Booing players isn’t the answer. They need support, not abuse, to bounce back from this slump.