Former Portadown coach 'gobsmacked' by club's 'massive own goal' call after Niall Currie exit

Adams, who previously worked as Currie’s number two at Carrick Rangers and Dundela, arrived alongside the manager after he was appointed for a second spell in October 2022.

Alongside John McAllister and Steven Hyndes, the Ports’ coaching team guided the club back into Northern Ireland’s top-flight after winning the Championship title and reached a BetMcLean Cup final, ultimately losing out to Linfield at Windsor Park.

Portadown fought for a top-half position for most of last season before finishing in eighth and are one point off the same spot this term.

On Wednesday night, the Co Armagh club confirmed Currie’s departure with the final game of his 217-match association across two stints a 4-0 weekend defeat to Crusaders.

Adams, who left Portadown to take over as Dundela boss in October, feels close friend Currie has been harshly treated – and insists he achieved the pre-season goals set out by the club.

"I was gobsmacked, absolutely gobsmacked,” said Adams. “I think it’s a massive own goal, I really do.

"I spent three years there with Niall and the work is non-stop. It’s a big club, but their financial power is probably in the bottom two or three.

"From personal experience from working with the man, he absolutely adores the club and adores the fans.

“He wanted to come back after the first time when he felt he was harshly treated and I have to say, I think he has been treated even more harshly the second time around.

"There’s two games left of the season, I couldn’t fathom why they wouldn’t let him go until the end of the season – if he goes and wins those two games, they’d finish in eighth for the second season in a row with a budget, which in their words, was a survival budget.

"I don’t get it, I feel really bad for him. He’s a Portadown diehard – he supports the club, he loves the club and I can only imagine how he’s feeling.

"I have had a couple of chats with him last night and this morning and I genuinely feel for him.”

Currie’s first spell in charge of his hometown club lasted just over a year and he was called upon once again with Portadown in dire trouble after a disastrous start to the 2022/23 campaign under Paul Doolin.

Adams feels Currie provided much-needed stability during his reign and insists he gave everything to his local team.

"Time will tell (if it’s a mistake), but until we came in at that time, the team was very much up and down,” he added. “It took a long time to get into the Premiership and then went straight back down, it was like a yo-yo.

"Niall took great pride in coming in and trying to stabilise the club. We won the Championship, had a great first season getting to a Mid-Ulster Cup and League Cup final – for a Championship side, that was phenomenal.

"It brought the memories back from the glory days and he’s probably been the only man since Ronnie (McFall) that brought some stability.

"I know at any club a defeat hurts, but for that man it was like his world was over any time he got a defeat because it was his club.

"I just think he has done a tremendous job and he’s done what was asked – bring the club up and stabilise it in the Premiership.

"If I was in his position, I would find it hard to fathom the decision.”