Former Glenavon star Mark Patton feels the Lurgan Blues are “too big of a club to go down” and hopes his friend Michael O’Connor can turn the situation around with January recruits.

The Mourneview Park outfit currently sit eight points adrift at the bottom and face an uphill battle to preserve their Premiership status.

However, the upcoming transfer window provides a potential opportunity for O’Connor, who replaced Paddy McLaughlin in October, to change the club’s fortunes.

The former Northern Ireland international has made his intention of signing “three or four, maybe more” clear and wants to have at least one new player ready for January 1.

placeholder image — Glenavon currently sit bottom of the Premiership table. (Photo by Alan Weir/Pacemaker Press)

Patton enjoyed more than four years at Glenavon, winning two Irish Cup crowns during that time, including scoring the winner in their 2013/14 triumph, and would hate to see a club which still holds a special place in his heart relegated.

"I know Mick very well and I know what he's like as a coach, person and manager,” said Patton. “It's tough for them at the minute, it's a really tough league.

"I hope he can maybe do something in January to get his players in and get his ideas across to move them up the table.

"I would hate to see them go down, I think they're too big of a club to go down, but you can't just rely on the name to not be relegated - you need to put in the performances and effort to drag yourself out of it.

"I'm hoping for Mick's sake and for everybody at Glenavon that they can get out of the situation and stay in the Premiership. It would be a sad day if they did go down, even for visiting teams - you're well looked after with a good pitch and good stadium.

"I enjoyed my years at Glenavon and if I'm not playing I would try and get down to see how they're getting on. I have a really special place in my heart for Glenavon...it's a club I hold dear.”

The Irish League landscape has changed in recent years with four full-time clubs now operating in Northern Ireland’s top-flight.

Another of Patton’s former teams, Dungannon Swifts, were able to break the stranglehold held on top-half positions by Linfield, Larne, Glentoran, Crusaders, Cliftonville and Coleraine last season, recording a joint-best finish of fourth alongside lifting the Irish Cup.

While it’s a difficult task for part-time clubs to compete at the top given financial resources, Patton feels the Swifts deserve immense credit for their recent exploits.

"It's very difficult for them (part-time clubs),” added Patton. “There's a lot of money floating around and what the players are getting at full-time clubs compared to part-time.

"The top teams are all still the same - Linfield, Glentoran and now you put Larne in there. Those teams below the bottom-six are fighting amongst themselves.

"The league is getting better at times, sometimes the full-time teams can cancel each other out, but there's quality there.

"The likes of Linfield and Glentoran will always be in the top-half, but you have the likes of Dungannon who have broken in and are doing well. They're part-time and able to compete very well and won an Irish Cup."