Glentoran owner Ali Pour has revealed he’s “£5million down” through his investment at The Oval outfit – but insists there’s no concern as he “doesn't expect to make a profit every year”.

Pour took over at the East Belfast club in 2019 and has invested millions in an attempt to end their long wait for Premiership title success.

Glentoran remain without a Gibson Cup since 2009 and haven’t finished inside the Premiership’s top-two since the same season – they collected a new high points tally across that period last term, but still ended six adrift of champions Larne.

Pour has backed current manager Declan Devine significantly in the transfer market with a host of high-profile players, including the likes of Pat Hoban, Aaron McEneff and Conor McMenamin, arriving at the club.

placeholder image — Glentoran's owner Ali Pour in the home stand during Saturday's match. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

While Pour doesn’t have much silverware to show for his investment at this stage, the businessman isn’t worried about losing money.

"It's no secret that my commitment was just over £1million seven or eight years ago,” he said on BBC Sportsound. “We had a clear business plan which on paper looked amazing - you go full-time, pay off debts, win the league, you're in Europe and then money comes rolling back in.

"It didn't quite happen...it's my eighth season and I'm £5million down.

"I'm not complaining because football isn't about making money, the owner of a football club doesn't expect to make a profit every year, you're building value.

"If I was to sell the club tomorrow, I would easily get £5million, if not more.

"Cliftonville went for £3million and they're a fraction of our size. I'm not worried about my investment, I'm just worried about performances on the pitch and winning silverware.

"It's not a charity, it’s a business, and my investment is safe. We’re not talking about £50/100million into a business worth £5/10million, I’m still ahead as an investor and my money is safe.

"I will make a profit when I decide to sell...I could sell tomorrow but I don’t want to, the time is not right. It’s not just heart, there’s also brains behind it.”

Pour flew in to watch Glentoran's 1-1 Premiership draw against Bangor on Saturday and witnessed the team being booed off at both half-time and full-time as they lost further ground on their title rivals.

Pressure continues to mount on Devine’s position as manager – and Pour was clear the former Derry City chief knows the requirements.

"The facts are facts - Decky has had the biggest budget any manager has had, this is his squad, every single player he has handpicked himself,” added Pour before the match. “The pressure is on and he's aware of that.

"He's been around, he's highly experienced, and he knows what is expected of him, I don't need to tell him.

"This morning (Saturday) we had a conversation and he said 'Ali, if I thought I couldn't pull this off, if I thought I can't manage this team, I would have a five minute chat with you, shake hands and be gone'.

"He's a man of honour, a man of dignity, he's highly qualified, he knows what's expected of him and that's it. It makes my life a lot easier."

McMenamin’s return to Glentoran from Coleraine was one of the biggest moves across the summer window and Pour admits he was delighted to seize an opportunity which didn’t come before his Bannsiders move.

"I was disappointed when he went to Coleraine, we didn't get a chance to bid for him,” he said. “A bit like Joel Cooper, Coleraine swooped in and took him without us having much of a say.

"When I realised things weren't working out, I was upset for him and his family that they couldn't settle, but I was happy to provide an opportunity for him to join us again.

"He played his (best) football with us and hopefully he can do even 80/90% of what he did those years ago, we would be happy with him. It's a great deal for both of us.”