Former Irish League striker David McDaid “would hate to think where Cliftonville would be without” Jim Magilton – and says he admires the Northern Ireland legend’s “unbelievable tactical knowledge” as he forges his own career in management.

McDaid, who scored over 50 goals across his two-and-a-half years as a player at Solitude, has watched his former club on numerous occasions this term and been impressed by their displays.

Cliftonville endured a six-game losing league run across September and October before roaring back into top form across recent weeks, winning five on the trot across three different competitions.

The Reds are preparing for a fifth final – another Co Antrim Senior Shield decider – since Magilton’s appointment in 2023 with the ex-Ipswich Town boss ending the club’s long wait for Irish Cup glory before sealing BetMcLean Cup success.

placeholder image — Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton has won the Irish Cup and BetMcLean Cup during his time at Solitude. (Photo by Presseye/Stephen Hamilton)

McDaid had the best seat in the house for their 4-2 Premiership triumph over reigning champions Larne last Friday while working on commentary for NIFL TV – the position perched just above Magilton’s dugout.

The 35-year-old, who also enjoyed Irish League spells at Larne, Coleraine, Ballymena United and Glenavon, now watches matches from a very different perspective after moving into management with Portstewart last summer.

McDaid has already emerged as one of Northern Ireland’s brightest young coaches, winning eight of his first nine National Conference League Premier Division matches alongside reaching the Craig Memorial Cup final and sealing progress to the Irish Cup’s fourth round.

Keen to pick up tips from the best, McDaid has thoroughly enjoyed every opportunity to watch Magilton in action – and insists Reds fans should embrace having someone of his calibre at the club.

"I like watching his team and listening to him as well,” McDaid told the News Letter. “He has an unbelievable tactical knowledge.

"I seen it first-hand last Friday against Larne, the wee tweaks that he made during the game, I can't sing his praises high enough.

“A lot of Cliftonville fans don't understand how lucky they are because Jim's a hot property of a manager.

"I think Cliftonville fans need to be careful what they wish for...the longer Jim is at the club, the better.

"I would hate to think where Cliftonville would be without the recruitment of Jim...it’s not just him, the likes of Marc Smyth and Conor Pepper, the young coaches coming through, they're doing everything right at the minute.

"Their academy is absolutely flying, how they coach, how they play, they're doing it the right way. I think it does start from the top down and Jim's doing everything right.”

While Cliftonville are set to transition to a full-time model in the near future after accepting a takeover proposal from the Toronto Investment Group, they’re still currently fighting against rivals with significantly more financial resources.

As a result, Magilton continues to battle with squad turnover, typically losing his top players across recent transfer windows.

Of the starting line-up from Cliftonville’s Irish Cup final win over Linfield in May 2024, only captain Rory Hale is still on the books at Solitude.

With a background in youth development having played a key role in creating the Irish FA’s Club NI programme – now known as the JD Academy – Magilton has worked his magic in keeping Cliftonville competitive with shrewd recruitment.

"I thought Joe Sheridan was the best player on the pitch against Larne, I thought he was fantastic,” added McDaid. “The thing that impressed me most was when Rory Hale went off, they gave him the armband.

"Sometimes that just happens, but in the 88th minute when they're 3-2 up, he goes to the corner and says ‘give me the ball’ under pressure, it shows you he's got an old man’s head on young shoulders.

"Dean McMaster, he's fantastic. I thought he controlled large parts of the game as well against Larne, Cliftonville’s midfield dominated.

"The praise I have for Jim is unbelievable because they constantly are losing four or five players, their best players, every window...and then all of a sudden he just picks out another one, another one.

"The one I have been most impressed by throughout the whole year is Ben Quinn.

“I played against him last year in an U20s game, and he was unbelievable. Jim goes and signs him, and I think he's fantastic.

"Even the left-back they signed, Ollie Samuels, I watched him play against Portadown and he’s another they'll end up losing.

"Signing these players, I probably think that's where they're at as a club.

"They're not going to be able to compete with the likes of Larne, Glentoran, Coleraine, maybe even throw Ballymena in there, they're not going to be able to compete with them full-time teams in terms of wages.

"But the shrewd recruitment of Jim, he's worked wonders.”