IRISH LEAGUE: Nixon stays focused as boss awaits new Ards deal

Colin Nixon may have secured Ards' place in the Danske Bank Premiership for next season, but his own future remains uncertain.
Colin Nixon. Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.Colin Nixon. Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.
Colin Nixon. Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.

Ards moved 15 points clear of Carrick Rangers on Saturday thanks to a 1-0 win over Glenavon at the Bangor Fuels Arena, but Nixon has not yet been offered a new deal.

Since replacing Niall Currie in the Ards dugout in December, Nixon has won 15 points from 13 games.

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He said, “A new deal is not my main concern at the moment, I’m just focusing on improving Ards Football Club so they can become a stable Premiership club.

“That’s why we’ve moved quickly to re-sign a number of players because I want Ards to have solid base for next season, regardless of who the manager is.

“The Chairman asked me to come in and steer the club towards safety, and we’re very close to doing that, but what happens next isn’t up to me.

“I’ll just keep plugging away each week and try to get as many points on the board.

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“I’m very pleased with our win over Glenavon. It wasn’t a fantastic display but it was a clean sheet and another three points.”

On Saturday, Glenavon goalkeeper James Taylor saved Michael Ruddy’s penalty in stoppage time, only for the Ards left-back to smash home the rebound.

Reflecting on the defeat, Glenavon gaffer Gary Hamilton said,

“We made a lot of changes, resting 12 players, but if you actually look at the team we selected, there was plenty of experience out there.

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“Most of the guys out there have played over 100 games at league level, so I’m disappointed that we lost the game.

“I actually don’t think we deserved to lose the game as we had more of the play, but we didn’t take our chances.

“It some ways, that’s been the story of our season. We give ourselves a good platform but we don’t finish games off, and Ards punished us for that.

“That’s why we’re not in the top three or four.”