Glentoran manager Declan Devine has reached an agreement to leave the club following a poor start to the Irish Premiership season. The east Belfast outfit is currently eighth in the table with seven points after six fixtures.
The agreement for Devine’s departure was reached on Monday. His final match in charge was a 1-1 draw against Bangor on Saturday, a result met with boos from the home crowd. Devine initially took over as interim boss in March 2024, becoming the permanent manager the following month. He led Glentoran to the County Antrim Shield in the 2024-25 season, securing their first trophy in five years.
Despite significant investment in the playing squad, Glentoran has not finished higher than third under Devine. They also suffered defeats in consecutive BetMcLean Cup finals in 2025 and 2026. Glentoran owner Ali Pour stated on Saturday that Devine needed to deliver results, noting the manager had a squad he “hand-picked” with “the biggest budget of any manager.” Pour observed that significant spending had not translated into success on the field.
The club was in contention for the title last season with two games remaining, but drew 0-0 with Larne and then lost 6-2 to Coleraine, ultimately finishing second. This season, Glentoran was eliminated from Europe in the first round by RFS and has suffered losses to Linfield, Crusaders, and Larne. The loss of midfielder Cammy Palmer and injuries to key players, including top scorer Pat Hoban, have contributed to their struggles. Glentoran will now seek a new manager, marking the fourth time since January 2023 they have done so. Assistant Tim McCann said on Saturday that players needed to start taking “accountability” for their “unacceptable displays”.
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