'He puts the Irish League on the map': Glentoran star enjoying 'really positive' Duncan Ferguson experience
Glentoran star Aaron McEneff knows the intrigue of Duncan Ferguson’s first match in charge will bring extra eyes to Friday’s Premiership showdown with league leaders Coleraine as the Everton legend “puts the Irish League as a whole on the map”.
Ferguson’s high-profile arrival as Declan Devine’s successor earlier this month sparked worldwide interest with the cult football figure returning to management after two years away.
With Ferguson’s scheduled opener against Ballymena United postponed due to a failed pitch inspection at The Oval last weekend, his maiden taste of standing on an Irish League touchline will come at The Showgrounds opposite Ruaidhri Higgins’ table-toppers.
A title winner at Rangers before celebrating FA Cup glory with Everton, Ferguson’s appointment on a multi-year deal has undoubtedly generated extra Premiership interest and boosted its profile.
"There's going to be a lot of eyes on the game with the manager coming in,” McEneff told the News Letter. “I think he puts the Irish League as a whole on the map a bit more.
"There'll be people looking into the league that maybe haven’t even watched it before, which is good.
"But as players, we've got a job to do. For us, it's obviously a big game, but in terms of preparation for people like myself, you have to go in and treat it like any other game.
"Ultimately, we're going there to get three points on Friday night, so hopefully we can do that.”
Ferguson has enjoyed two full working weeks with his players, highlighting non-negotiables and instilling his coaching philosophy as he looks to guide Glentoran up the Premiership table.
"It's given everyone a lift in training and around the whole environment,” added McEneff. “I've really enjoyed his sessions and the ideas that he's put across to us as players.
"He's brought a real intensity, which has been good, it's been really positive so far.
"When you get a new manager, you do get a change in the intensity initially. You can see he's not going to let that slip off, which is really good in terms of where we want to go and how we want to kick on.
"Around the place, he's a well-respected figure in football. Everybody knows who Duncan Ferguson is.
"I think it's been good for us as a group to have someone like that come in and try and raise the standards of the group and the club.
"With the new manager coming in, everybody wants to impress. It's a clean slate for us as players.”