Former Ballymena United star feels 'very good manager' will 'probably get job if he wants it'

Kearney enjoyed two successful spells in charge of Coleraine, winning an Irish Cup and League Cup crown alongside recording three second-placed Premiership finishes.

The 47-year-old also previously had a stint with Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren, preserving their top-flight status after coming through a play-off against Dundee United before returning to Northern Ireland.

Ex-Linfield ace Kearney departed his role as Coleraine’s sporting director in May – a matter of days after brother-in-law Dean Shiels was relieved of his managerial duties with Ruaidhri Higgins taking over.

It’s thought Kearney, who made 121 appearances as a player for Ballymena, will be amongst the club’s top targets alongside the likes of Paddy McLaughlin as they ramp up their search for Ervin’s successor.

Interim manager Ciaran Caldwell overseen Tuesday’s BetMcLean Cup quarter-final win over Larne and is set to remain in charge for Saturday’s league clash against Dungannon Swifts.

Kane made 358 appearances for Ballymena across almost a decade at The Showgrounds and feels it’s important his former club get the decision correct.

"I don't know who will get it,” he said. “The usual names have been linked with it like Oran, Paddy McLaughlin and Dean Shiels.

"Oran will probably get it if he wants it. He did a good job at Coleraine, but it'll be tough going into Ballymena.

"He's a very good manager and he has proven himself both in the Irish League and over in Scotland at St Mirren. He did well there and I think they wanted him to stay on. He's a great coach and he's a great fella as well."

Ballymena’s new manager will take over a side currently sitting eighth in the Premiership, four points adrift of weekend opponents Dungannon who occupy sixth spot.

A host of Irish League clubs are battling it out for the prize of European football with finishing inside the top-half securing at least a play-off come the end of the season.

Kane believes the Ballymena vacancy represents a great opportunity for an incoming boss, but feels there’s a gap forming between the four full-time teams and the rest in Northern Ireland’s top-flight.

"The money seems to be there and it's a great club,” he added. “I don't have a bad word to say about Ballymena.

"The only thing is do they take that leap and go into full-time football to push on, or are clubs going to stand still and fall behind? It looks at the minute that those four full-time teams are the only ones who will compete for the league each year.

"Any team of four can go down and any team of four could move into the top-six. There's a big gulf and that's probably down to the wages being paid out now and the calibre of player that other clubs are attracting from England and beyond."