Linfield chairman opens up on 'really toxic' social media abuse and gives full backing to David Healy

McGivern’s comments come after Linfield assistant manager Ross Oliver slammed the “horrible” messages aimed at David Healy and his players following their shock Irish Cup exit to Limavady United earlier this month.

Healy’s men have since responded by winning three consecutive Premiership matches, scoring 13 goals in the process, ahead of Saturday’s ‘Big Two’ showdown against Glentoran.

While most of McGivern’s tenure as Blues chairman has been successful, winning six Premiership titles, three League Cup crowns and two Irish Cups since being appointed in January 2017, he has also witnessed a spike of “really personal” attacks on social media during bad times.

McGivern knows criticism comes with the territory of being involved with a club of Linfield’s stature, but he insists some comments have crossed a line and revealed he now doesn’t go on social media after poor results.

"I did see Ross' comments and I think some people maybe have taken it a bit the wrong way,” McGivern told the News Letter. “People are entitled to criticise, fans are entitled to give their opinion.

"What Ross was trying to say is sometimes it crosses the line and it becomes really personal, it becomes vile in some cases on social media and it's really, really toxic...I think that's what Ross was trying to say.

"People need to draw back a bit. Give your opinion, be critical if you want to be critical, that's fine and we can all take it, but don't cross the line.

"You have to think about people's mental health at the end of the day as well. I just think social media gives people a platform now which maybe goes a bit too far.

"If we have a bad result, I switch social media off now because I think it's just not worth it.

"I just think there are more important things in life than being on X or Facebook or whatever else.

"Sometimes it can be positive and we try to use all those channels, particularly for our younger fans, but when you have a bad result, it just gets really, really toxic and a bandwagon sort of builds there.

"For players, reading some of those comments, it must be really bad for them and their families as well.

"It must be horrendous. I do tell our staff and our players to try and stay off it as much as possible, but their families are reading it.

"My message to all fans would be to give your opinion, have your say, but just don't be crossing the line...think about people's personal lives and their families, don't go overboard.”

Some on social media called for Healy’s departure following Linfield’s cup defeat to second-tier Limavady, but McGivern insists their title-winning manager maintains the board’s full backing.

McGivern was appointed as chairman only a matter of months after Northern Ireland legend Healy took on his first managerial role at Windsor Park and believes he’ll continue to deliver success.

The pair have worked closely over the past nine years and will do so again as Healy looks to rebuild Linfield’s squad ahead of next season.

"We’ve every confidence in David,” added McGivern. “He has come through a tricky spell there recently.

"When you lose to the likes of Glentoran on Boxing Day, it's a bad result.

"The result against Limavady is really bad. The Irish Cup was one of our targets this year. The league is maybe a step too far, but the cup was a big target so losing against a Championship team is disappointing.

"No one feels that more than me, the staff and the players, we all feel that huge disappointment.

"We had it with Queen’s a few years back...you just have to try and get over it and put it to the side. Sometimes these things happen in football. There are shock results.

"We've had a lot of injuries as well, but I think I've seen signs in the last few weeks...we've brought a few players in in January there, we have strengthened the squad and there's some players coming back, like Kieran Offord.

"David knows more than anyone the challenges of Linfield Football Club. He's been a fan of the club since a boy.

"He knows that you have to bring success, that's the expectation, he knows that. He will be working day and night to try and bring success to the club.

"David has talked about rebuilding the squad. In the summer, a lot of players will leave the club who are out of contract, new players will come in.

"With the current squad we have, plus hopefully some new talent coming in, I'm sure that David will be building it again for next year.

"With three wins now under our belts, hopefully we can kick on from that...it's all to play for still.”