Former Irish League manager 'can't wait to get back' amid Ballymena United speculation
Former Glenavon boss Paddy McLaughlin admits “I can't wait to get back” into management – feeling he has learnt crucial lessons which he’ll utilise in his next assignment.
McLaughlin departed his position at the Lurgan Blues in September following a ninth straight Premiership defeat which left the Co Armagh club sitting bottom of the table without a point.
Having succeeded Stephen McDonnell, McLaughlin spent less than 12 months in charge at Mourneview Park despite signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.
McLaughlin has been linked with the current managerial vacancy at Ballymena United following Jim Ervin’s exit, but it’s believed Oran Kearney is in pole position to take over – an announcement is expected in the coming days on the identity of the new Sky Blues chief.
After impressing at Cliftonville, where he masterminded the Reds’ League Cup triumph in 2022 alongside competing at the Premiership’s top-end, McLaughlin will be amongst the top contenders for every available Irish League job until he returns.
Despite the disappointment of his recent Glenavon reign, the 46-year-old is determined to make a swift dugout return and feels he will do so as a better manager – and person.
"It's like trying to tell kids not to eat a bar of chocolate!" he said on BBC Sportsound. “There's only so long you can keep them away before they get there eventually.
"I'm no different. I can't wait to get back. I have learnt a lot about myself, of what I did right and wrong in the decisions I made.
"We went with a lot of young players, maybe we should have had brought one or two more experienced players to the club, but we backed the young boys...they'll be brilliant in time.
"I learnt a lot and every experience is a learning one. I'll take the learnings, experience and move onto my next club. If we get there, we start again in another job and every decision is key when you're a manager."
McLaughlin has been involved in coaching for a decade, also holding positions at Institute and Derry City, and feels criticism on social media now plays a big role when it comes to clubs making key decisions.
“I think some of the criticism at times can come from people who aren't even at the matches,” he added. "Social media now is the place to be, you know everything that's going on in the world without being there.
"I think sometimes decisions are made based on what people are saying on social media, which is unfair for players and managers to be criticised by people who aren't even watching the games.
"The die-hards and loyal supporters, they are the ones who stick by you in good and bad, they're always there, but a lot of the criticism which can cost players contracts and managers jobs, that comes a lot from knee-jerk reactions at times.
"I'm sure Jim (Ervin) is bitterly disappointed to lose his job, but I'm sure he's really frustrated to see a result coming in on Tuesday night.
"These things can happen in football, a new lease of life for players who weren't playing, maybe a new voice in the changing room triggered one or two things that weren't before.
"Jim is hard-working, honest and one of the good guys in the game…there's no doubt he'll be back soon enough."