Glentoran manager Declan Devine has revealed Ross Clarke “will probably go for surgery in the coming days” as he looks to be ready for next season – and also outlined the club’s plans for the summer transfer window.

Clarke made a move to full-time football from Crusaders in January, joining alongside team-mate Jarlath O’Rourke, Aaron McEneff, Josh Daniels, Jack Malone and Ben Gallagher as the Glens made a significant play for the Premiership title.

The 32-year-old made an immediate impact, scoring twice in a 4-0 win over Bangor and registered 12 league appearances, but his involvement in the split was limited due to injury.

Clarke was replaced after 20 minutes of a 1-1 draw against Linfield and missed wins over Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts.

placeholder image — Glentoran manager Declan Devine. (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press)

He scored as the Glens were thrashed 6-2 by Coleraine on the final day – a result which seen them miss out on a second-placed finish – and is now set for an operation to correct a shoulder issue sustained in March.

Devine also confirmed that O’Rourke, who hit the ground running at Glentoran, has had surgery on a broken foot – the defender missed all of his side’s split fixtures.

"Ross Clarke will probably go for surgery in the coming days because in the pre-split Coleraine game he picked up a nasty shoulder injury,” he told the club’s media channel. “Those two (Clarke and O’Rourke) hit the ground running for us brilliantly, two outstanding players.

"The transfer window was really positive but we needed that, we needed to strengthen.

"You look around at the investment Coleraine made, Larne have made over recent years, Linfield have spent a lot of money, especially last season.

"If you want to be competitive, you have to recruit well, and I genuinely believe we have recruited brilliantly and I back the players we have at the club to have a successful season next year."

A number of Devine’s signings across the season were met with some criticism, including the return of Jordan Stewart, who won four league titles with ‘Big Two’ rivals Linfield.

Devine was aware of the outside noise around certain decisions – but insists it comes with the territory of being a professional football manager.

"We're in a phase of life where keyboard warriors can come on and affect players by being negative towards them,” he added. “I'm sure Jordan Stewart was coming here with a point to prove, I'm sure Pat Hoban was coming here with a point to prove, as was Ross Clarke.

"You can't please everybody all the time and you have to be thick-skinned in my job and as a player.

"That outside noise is heard but it doesn't affect your determination to be successful. If we all are happy reading the good stuff, we have to accept that the bad stuff might come too and be willing to accept that.

"To be a professional footballer is difficult, but it's part and parcel of our jobs.”

Having made a number of statement signings across the past 12 months with Devine backed by owner Ali Pour in the market, Glentoran’s squad looks in a healthy position as they set sights on ending the club’s 18-year wait for Gibson Cup glory next term.

Doubt currently surrounds the future of reigning Player of the Year Cameron Palmer – Pour revealed the club are in talks with the midfielder over a new contract but admitted “he might want a change” this summer.

MJ Kamson-Kamara was named in NIFWA’s Team of the Season but has now returned to parent club Lincoln City after a successful loan.

Devine will have to make big calls as Glentoran look to take the next step and is also focusing on ensuring several key players are at full fitness for another campaign.

"We probably have to do some business, I wouldn't imagine we will be doing the business we did over the course of the past 12 months, but we definitely need to strengthen,” he said. “There's players out of contract who might see their future elsewhere, there's players we understand might have to move on, that's the reality of the game.

"If we're able to keep a huge chunk of the players that we have and add one or two to it, I think we'll be in a good position come the start of pre-season.

"Hopefully we can get the likes of Jarlath O'Rourke back, Jordan Stewart has been playing since Boxing Day with a really nasty injury so he needs time to recover and potentially see a specialist, hopefully he gets the all clear, Ross Clarke will probably have surgery.

"The off-season is coming at the right time for some players to get them ready for next season.

"We have the nucleus of a really good squad here...we came up short a couple of times, we could have been having a different conversation. We're very close to having a team that can challenge on all fronts.”