'I'll do it here' - Points the priority but Glentoran boss Duncan Ferguson adding Belfast to career community roots in Dundee, Glasgow, Newcastle and Merseyside
Duncan Ferguson’s career across three-plus decades has featured deep roots within working-class communities in Dundee, Glasgow, Newcastle and Liverpool.
Points on the pitch may prove the priority for the newly-appointed Glentoran boss but Ferguson is keen to now embrace life living in Belfast and continue that personal social interaction so important alongside his professional ambitions.
It is testament to his community commitment that the Everton legend spent the final days of his time at the Toffees making a presentation to a long-standing fan in recognition of 60 years’ service to the NHS on Merseyside.
In his previous manager’s post before joining Glentoran, Ferguson revealed he work without a salary at times to aid Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s financial crisis.
Ferguson has a proud track record of offering support to helping disadvantaged members of a city he calls home – with a move now to Belfast a statement of intent around his dedication to Glentoran goals.
"I love being around about the community and the fans,” said Ferguson. “The fans are the club, that's what it's all about.
"I'll be in and around the community and I enjoy that part of the job.
"I did it in Liverpool my whole career and I'll do it here.”
Ferguson enjoys cult hero status at Everton having served the club over two spells as a player plus coaching roles with the Academy and firsts, caretaker manager position and assistant to world-class names such as Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez.
Ahead of his first game as an Irish League boss when Ballymena United visit The Oval on Saturday afternoon, Ferguson highlighted parallels between Everton and the Glens.
Ferguson outlined: “There's a comparison there, isn't there?
"Yeah, we've got to close the gap on the teams above us, haven't we?
"It's been a long time since the club’s won the league.
“So we need to try and close that gap on the teams above us and hopefully we can do that.
"I know there's one or two teams have got games in hand on us.
"We've got 11 points off the top...so it's a long way to go but we can do it.
"We can breach that gap but we've got to keep on winning matches.”
Ferguson admitted to a lack of prior Irish League knowledge before accepting the Glentoran offer – but did reveal one historic link to the proud Belfast club and a Northern Ireland football icon.
As a teenager on the books of Dundee United Ferguson shared a dressing room with ex-Glens player and current Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill.
“I played with Michael when we were young men up at Dundee United,” said Ferguson with a smile. “I actually used to go and stay in his apartment on a Tuesday night and we used to have a chat.
"Good fella, great player...he was a good player at Dundee United, had a great career.
"And he's doing very well for Northern Ireland.”