Manager's vacancy 'essential criteria' and application deadline revealed by Irish League club
Ballymena United officials have formally kicked off the process of finding a replacement for Jim Ervin following the manager’s weekend exit.
A club post across social media platforms confirmed “Ballymena United are inviting expressions of interest for the position of first-team manager”.
Defeat on Saturday to Glenavon - the Premiership’s bottom club - marked the end of time as Ballymena boss for Ervin, who was appointed in his first senior management role before the 2023/24 season.
Ballymena’s statement also put the spotlight on “essential criteria” required to fill the vacancy.
The full statement read as follows: “Ballymena United are inviting expressions of interest for the position of first-team manager.
"Expressions of interest accompanied by CVs should be submitted to [email protected] no later than Thursday 4th December 2025 at 12 noon.
"All applications will be held with strict confidentiality.
“Essential Criteria: A valid UEFA Pro coaching licence or any valid non-UEFA coaching diploma which is equivalent to the UEFA Pro coaching licence and recognised by UEFA as such or; Have started and attended the first part of the UEFA Pro coaching licence course and is working towards completion in a reasonable timeframe.”
Player focus must swiftly turn back to events on the pitch as Ballymena face Larne on Tuesday in the BetMcLean Cup quarter-finals.
Ballymena have announced a management team of under 20s boss Ciaran Caldwell “in the interim period...assisted by Patrick McEleney and Sean O'Neill” heading into the home knockout tie.