'I would be concerned': Former Crusaders star worried for Irish League club in relegation fight
Former Crusaders defender Howard Beverland admits he’s concerned for his old club in their fight to preserve Premiership status.
Ahead of Saturday’s North Belfast derby showdown at Cliftonville, the Crues occupy a promotion/relegation play-off position and lost ground on nearest rivals Ballymena United following Tuesday’s defeat at The Showgrounds.
While Crusaders are 10 points clear of basement club Glenavon in the race to avoid an automatic drop, Ballymena are now three better off with Portadown six ahead in ninth.
After succeeding legendary manager Stephen Baxter ahead of last season, Declan Caddell led the Seaview club to a top-half Premiership finish.
A host of experienced stars departed in the summer, including Billy Joe Burns and Philip Lowry, as Caddell was tasked with changing the squad profile, while Ross Clarke and club captain Jarlath O’Rourke both joined Glentoran in January.
The Crues’ transfer policy in recent windows has been focusing on Scotland – they’ve eight Scotsmen on their books currently – and putting an emphasis on youth.
Caddell is in charge of the Premiership’s youngest squad – Jordan Forsythe was the only played aged over 28 who started in Tuesday’s loss – and Beverland is particularly worried by their defensive record.
Crusaders have conceded a league-high 58 goals across their 28 matches this term while no team has collected fewer points at home (nine).
"I thought it would be tough for them, but I definitely didn't see them sitting second bottom,” said Beverland. “I listened to Decky's interview after the Ballymena game and it sounds like they were well beaten.
"To be fair to Decky, he always calls it straight, credit to him...it felt like there was no real fight or grasp of how big that game was.
"Their transfer policy has been very different, dipping into Scotland a lot and a younger age bracket.
"They needed to add a few younger players because the average age under Stephen was probably the highest in the league, but when you lose age, you lose experience.
"Decky has tried to change the DNA at Crusaders, and he probably had to, but they look inexperienced.
"You just look at it and think they're very young and naive, and that's the bit that concerns me. They have a striker that can score goals (Fraser Bryden), but my concern is they're conceding far too many goals.”
Beverland feels former team-mate Caddell has been handed a tough maiden managerial assignment given the amount of change at the Crues and is concerned Tuesday’s result could have a big impact.
"Things have changed a lot financially, the club hasn't been in Europe and there has been a rebuild,” he added. “They have brought in younger players and tried to change their style of play...Decky is brand new to management as well.
"He has had to trim the budget it appears, so it's a really hard job. You can be sure he'll be trying his absolute best.
"The result on Tuesday concerns me. I think Ballymena have more about them than Crusaders and I would be concerned for them.
"Ballymena under Oran (Kearney) will grab more points in the run-in, they’ve experience in their team, and Igor Rutkowski has started very well. I know him from my time at Portadown and played against him at Armagh.
"Crusaders also have a striker on form, but I would be concerned all over the pitch. I would be concerned if I was a senior player.
"I've been in those positions where you're in a relegation battle and it's not a nice place to be. It's a tough slog...it can be tough to turn it around but I would love them to.”