Coyle sympathetic towards fans

On Saturday, following the Glens’ dismal 2-0 defeat to Ards in Bangor, the team were booed off the park, while captain Nacho Novo had an exchange with one disgruntled fan.

Director of Football Coyle, who is looking after first-team affairs while the club search for a replacement for the recently-departed Alan Kernaghan, shared the fans’ frustration.

“They’ve been angry for most of the season,” he said. “They vented their feelings after the game and they are entitled to do that.

“They are witnessing things that they don’t like. They’re not happy and you can’t argue against that.

“I don’t blame them for being angry. What’s the point in being kind to players if those players aren’t doing their job?

“We’ve got to find a solution to this situation in the near future.”

On the day, Ards picked Glentoran apart. Defender Johnny Taylor returned to haunt his old club in the seventh minute when he headed home a Kyle Cherry header, while Ross Arthurs made it 2-0 in the 66th minute, some 60 seconds after he left the substitutes’ bench.

Coyle’s old club Ards are now second, after claiming four wins from seven.

A delighted Niall Currie - who some have tipped for the vacant role at The Oval - said: “We’ve got great characters in that dressing room and great leaders. Some lead by example and some are mouthpieces, but it’s a good blend and it’s working for us.

“The thing that pleased me was Glentoran dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half and, rather than buckling, we weathered the storm. Previous Ards teams would have conceded a goal during that spell, and went on to lose the game.

“After that, we looked the better team. If it wasn’t for Elliott Morris we could have scored another couple of goals.”