'It will live with me for a long time': Declan Devine on his approach to promoting young stars at Glentoran
Declan Devine insists there’s a pathway for Glentoran’s top young talent to thrive in his senior squad – but is adamant opportunities have to come at “the right time for the right player” with an example from his reign at Derry City still living with him to this day.
As The Oval outfit aim to compete for the Irish League’s biggest honours, they’ve looked to attract star names in the transfer market with the likes of Pat Hoban, Josh Daniels and Aaron McEneff arriving in the past 12 months.
The pressure and expectation to deliver success naturally results in less opportunities for academy talent to make their mark in the senior ranks.
Glentoran’s U20s celebrated Premiership Development League success this season, winning 26 of 33 matches to finish six points clear of rivals Linfield at the summit.
Teenage duo Cal Weatherup and James McClure ended the campaign as joint-top goalscorers with 22 apiece, but neither made a senior league appearance as Devine’s side chased Gibson Cup glory until the final weekend.
Weatherup was rewarded with a professional contract last summer and scored in an Irish Cup win over Drumaness Mills while the likes of Ciaran Rogers-Duffy, Cillian McCann and Jack Faloona also made cup outings.
Devine remains committed to giving the club’s homegrown stars a chance to flourish, but doesn’t want to rush them before they’re ready.
"There’s definitely a pathway but it’s a big step,” he told the club’s media channel. “We have put players down to the U20s this year to get game time and it has been relatively easy for them.
"Our U20s have been magnificent, absolutely outstanding, but when you bring some players from the U20s up to the first team, you see the difference.
"There’s a huge step from U20 or development football to competing at the top-end of the Premiership.
"James Douglas is a prime example, James played 40-odd games last year and when he went out of the team, somebody else took the chance and it was hard for him to get back again. He had done so well and it was stop-start for him this year.
"Physically, there’s a big difference in U20 football and men’s football. Mentally, there’s 50 people at a reserve game but 4,000, 5,000 or 16,000 depending on what game you’re playing in here, there’s a huge step.
"The club has an unbelievable reputation for developing players and there’s a lot of players in the U20s who are getting a taste of it, but you also can’t throw them in too soon.
"I gave a player his debut at Derry City at 17 in the League of Ireland and had to take him off again at half-time...this guy was a top young player and it will live with me for a long time.
"I had to take him off at half-time and it knocked him back six months in his development, it’s something which will live with me.
"The players have to be right mentally, physically and emotionally, the coaches have to understand they’re ready to make the step up.
"I have been involved in youth development, I worked with Club NI, and it’s something I’m very passionate about, but it has to be the right time for the right player.”