Former Irish League manager 'not waiting by the phone' - but would consider return for right opportunity
Former Irish League manager Stephen Small admits he’s “not waiting by the phone” – but would consider a return if the right project came along.
Small, who spent the majority of his playing career at Cliftonville, has enjoyed spells in charge of Carrick Rangers, Donegal Celtic and Ballyclare Comrades alongside two years as Reds assistant to Barry Gray and Paddy McLaughlin.
The 56-year-old resigned as Ballyclare boss 12 months ago having reached consecutive Irish Cup quarter-finals and built an exciting young team with many members going on to ply their trade in the Premiership.
Small currently works for LLS Football Academy Belfast, which provides an opportunity for young people aged 16-18 to continue their football journey while gaining qualifications.
Having previously served as both manager and assistant, Small says he would be open to either position if the right chance came along.
“I look at the likes of Barry (Johnston) going in with Oran (Kearney) at Ballymena, something like that could be good,” he said. “When I was at Ballyclare, the best part of the job was working with players on the pitch so I enjoy that role.
"As far as management is concerned, yeah I’d go back in if something came up that I could get my teeth into and was an exciting project.
"I don’t want to do anything that’s just about staying in a league or fighting off relegation.
"Working alongside a manager who wants to get somebody in as a coach, that type of role is something I would do. I’m not waiting by the phone, put it that way!”
Small recorded a top-half Championship finish in his first full term at Ballyclare – a feat the club hadn’t achieved for three consecutive seasons – and followed it up by ending the 2023/24 campaign in seventh.
He reflects fondly on time spent at Dixon Park with the highlight coaching an array of talented young players.
"The two-and-a-half years I spent at Ballyclare, I really enjoyed it,” he added. “We had some fantastic young players that we were able to recruit because of my background in youth development.
"Four or five players have either went on to Premiership football or they’ve been in teams chasing promotion out of the Championship.
"Brian Healy has been doing really well for the Welders. I knew Brian from university football. He’s still so young – Brian has been around so long but he’s still only 21 and has a fantastic chance of pushing on, either with the Welders or a Premiership team.
"There’s no doubts in my mind that he has all the attributes to be a Premiership player.
"The best about working at Ballyclare was working with those young players. It’s a pity we couldn’t have built something there that kept them all together and pushed on ourselves.
"Sometimes boards and management aren’t aligned in their thinking and it was a simple case of misalignment.
"If something came up where someone was aligned with myself in terms of what they wanted from a project, I would be happy to go back in.”