Former Glenavon star backs board to ensure proposed investment deal 'right for all parties'
Former Glenavon star Andy McGrory has backed the board to ensure any investment deal is “right for all parties” – and feels it’s a crucial step for all part-time Premiership clubs to take in a bid to remain competitive.
The Lurgan Blues have called a shareholders meeting for Wednesday to discuss an “investment opportunity that could significantly impact the future growth and success of our club”.
With Glenavon’s board of directors outlining their support for the proposal, the Co Armagh club could become the latest Irish League outfit to benefit from outside investment if a deal is given the green light next week.
Four full-time teams – Linfield, Larne, Glentoran and Coleraine – are currently operating in the Premiership while American businessman Michael Smith has taken over at Carrick Rangers, who were crowned Senior Shield champions on Tuesday.
As the Irish League continues to push to the next level, McGrory feels every club will need extra finances and can see why his former side is an attractive proposition – but insists proper due diligence needs to be conducted before committing to any deal.
"Those four (full-time teams) are in a group of their own at the minute and you can see the league almost being split into three with a top, middle and bottom,” he said. “The top-four are out there on their own...you see the calibre of player Coleraine are bringing in.
"It has to be right for all parties at Glenavon and they have to look into the finer details, but if they want to compete, all these teams will need to have investment coming in.
"It's baffling actually that it's only coming around now that somebody wants to invest in Glenavon.
"It has to be right for all parties, it has to be right for Glenavon.
"They have a lot of good, hard-working people there who have been through the good and the bad. They have a good group on the board there so I'm sure they will look into the finer details and do what is right for Glenavon.
"If it was someone affiliated with Glenavon in some way, it would be even better.
"What Kenny Bruce did for Larne, he came in and made it sustainable and they are now in a really good place because of what Kenny put in place. If somebody had a connection to the Lurgan area or Glenavon, that would be an extra bonus for them."
McGrory is now playing at Ballymacash Rangers under former Lurgan Blues chief Gary Hamilton, but Glenavon’s result is always one of the first he searches for on a Saturday afternoon, retaining a deep love for a club where he won two Irish Cup crowns and made 203 appearances.
While excitement surrounds potential off-the-pitch developments in the coming weeks, Glenavon’s immediate priority is fighting off Premiership relegation – they sit 11 points adrift at the bottom.
McGrory is hoping Michael O’Connor’s men can transform their fortunes and insists it isn’t too late to preserve top-flight status.
"It's a bad situation, it's awful to see them where they are at the minute,” he added. “There's too many hard-working people up there who don't deserve to be where they are.
"If there's any club that can get out of it, Glenavon have the people behind the scenes that can pull them away from the bottom.
"I still think they're in with a shout if they can get one or two over the line and get a run going of positive results.
"The two teams I played for, Glenavon and Ballymena, are the first two I look for results for on Saturday.
"I loved every single minute of my time there (Glenavon) and as players, the way we were treated was amazing, everything we asked for we got and there were no issues.
"They looked after you when you were injured and I loved my time there. I hope they can get out of the situation they're in at the minute."
Glenavon have spent the past 21 years plying their trade in the Premiership after bouncing back from relegation during the 2003/04 campaign.
The highlights include finishing third on four occasions under Hamilton, but McGrory believes their current position shows the progress – and financial muscle – in Northern Ireland’s top-flight.
"It all stems back to finances,” he added. “A lot of teams are spending big money.
"You hear all sorts of rumours and never know what's true, but some of the money and figures you hear going around are crazy for this league.
"It attracts better players to our league too so you have to take both sides.
"It shows with Glenavon being where they are how far the league has come. Hopefully they can get themselves out of that spot and stay in the league."