Glentoran confirm Warren Feeney exit and update on next manager

Home defeat last weekend to Loughgall by 3-0 increased speculation over the future of Feeney – with the Glens left sitting fifth in the Sports Direct Premiership.

A brief club statement highlighted Feeney’s exit “by mutual consent”.

First-team coach John Gregg will take charge today when the Glens visit Dungannon Swifts but names linked to the vacant hot-seat include former Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin and ex-Glentoran player Declan Devine, the latter only this week having “parted company” with League of Ireland club Bohemians.

“Obviously it’s been a challenging week for the players with last week’s performance followed by all the changes that took place," said Gregg on the official Glentoran website. “But we’ve had some very good training sessions over the past few days and they’ve come out of it charged up and in great spirits for this game.”

The full Glentoran statement read: "Glentoran Football Club and first-team manager Warren Feeney have parted company by mutual consent. The Glentoran board thanks Warren for his work since his appointment last summer.

"Warren guided the team to their first final in three years and an Irish Cup semi-final, to be played later this month. Warren also played an important role in enhancing the club’s Academy during this time. We wish Warren every success for the future.

“Glentoran Football Club has immediately started the process of identifying and appointing our next manager.”

The Glens face Linfield later this month in the Clearer Water Irish Cup semi-finals and trail Crusaders by a single point in the league table.

A number of fans’ clubs also released a statement yesterday under the collective banner of “Glentoran Supporters’ Union” calling for a meeting with club owner Ali Pour.

The statement included the view “our problems run much deeper than the man in the dugout” and highlighting the need for “a root and branch review of all the internal structures”.