Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton admits he’s “really sad” to see outgoing chairman Kieran Harding depart the club and feels his exit will be a “huge loss”.

The Reds confirmed on Saturday that Harding, alongside Facilities Director Adrian Keenan and co-opted Director David Begley, had offered their resignations from the management committee – which were accepted with “great reluctance”.

Former Carrick Rangers manager Harding was appointed as Cliftonville chairman in February 2024 with the Reds winning their first Irish Cup in 45 years a matter of months later.

During Harding’s reign, Magilton’s men also celebrated League Cup glory, beating Glentoran in last year’s final, before missing out on defending their Irish Cup crown in a penalty shootout defeat to Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park.

placeholder image — Kieran Harding has resigned from his role as Cliftonville chairman. (Photo by Cliftonville FC)

There has been a period of uncertainty and unrest at Solitude recently with a long-running proposed takeover by the Toronto Investment Group withdrawn last month – the Canadian consortium claimed Cliftonville's board “was not working in good faith”.

Many fans had called for boardroom changes, and the trio have now stepped down with confirmation coming after Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 Irish Cup win over Glenavon.

Cliftonville have revealed their club secretary “will advise of the next steps to fill the posts vacated on an interim basis as soon as possible”.

Having also previously served on the coaching staff at both Portadown and Glentoran, Harding had extensive experience of the Irish League, and Reds chief Magilton feels his departure is a blow to the club.

"Kieran and the board have given me enormous support and we brought lots of players in during the window because we felt we needed it,” he said. “I'm really sad to see Kieran go and the board members that have gone because Kieran is a very decent human being.

"I've had a fantastic professional working relationship with Kieran.

"There are very few chairmen in this league that had his knowledge of the league because of his incredible coaching career.

"He was someone I would always bounce off and from a personal point of view, I'm going to miss him because I spoke to him on a regular basis and he was always someone you can talk to about the team – not very many chairmen can do that.

"So losing Kieran is a huge loss for me and for our club and for the players too. So we wish them well, we wish David well and we wish Aidy Keenan well too.”

Harding’s exit comes a matter of days after Cliftonville condemned abuse directed at board members last weekend as the Reds faced Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

A statement from the North Belfast club stated how “sexist, threatening, abusive language or conduct has no place at our Club – we condemn them unequivocally”.

Announcing their committee changes, Cliftonville posted: “Cliftonville Football Club confirms the resignation of Chair Kieran Harding, Facilities Director Adrian Keenan and co-opted Director David Begley from the Management Committee.

“It is with great reluctance the resignations are accepted, and recognition and thanks are given to them for their dedication and hard work for the Club over the past years.

“The Club Secretary will advise of the next steps to fill the posts vacated on an interim basis as soon as possible.”