New manager has sights set on climbing table after arrival at Championship club is confirmed

The 53-year-old enjoyed great success across two-and-a-half years in charge at Darragh Park, helping Dergview to two North-West Senior Cup crowns and a top-six finish in his first full season, but left in September with the club sitting 11th having won just one of their opening seven league matches.

He recently spent a brief spell in Darren Murphy’s backroom staff at Finn Harps, but leading from the front is where Canning always wanted to be and he’s excited by the opportunity that has presented itself with the County Fermanagh outfit.

“It's good to be back in the game and involved again,” he said. “It's obvious that they aren't in the best place that they've ever been in currently but they've great pedigree.

"It wasn't very long ago they were in the Irish Cup final as a Championship club and they were in the Premiership too.

"Their facilities, the setup, things are going on in the background and it's a proper football club.

"I wanted to work there so when they contacted me that in itself eases any self doubts you have over things not going well before.

"It's also the realisation that you managed yourself well with the interactions you have with clubs and knowing that despite the way things ended at Dergview that over the whole piece it was a successful period.

"You just want back in and to get another go."

Management is an emotional rollercoaster and when you experience a low like collecting just three points from a possible 21 at the start of a new campaign, it can leave you with doubt.

Canning wasn’t immune to those feelings but says experience has helped him push through and looks back with great pride on his time with Dergview.

"There's a managerial curve that (Carlo) Ancelotti talks about where you go in somewhere, you begin to build and it goes well, then it plateaus off, drops away and it's never personal,” he added. “That's just the way the animal works.

"It comes to an end, someone else comes in and you move on.

"There are doubts and you do question yourself. You have to steel yourself and push through any of those negative doubts that are in your head.

"You have to keep believing that you have something to offer, that you can deliver, that you have potential and that you can achieve things.

"That overrides the elements of doubt. Your experience stands against it and helps you push through.

"I gave it everything I had and we had some really good times – a top-six finish is a brilliant achievement, winning the Senior Cup for the first time in the club's history is a proud moment and so is the second season there.

"The first nine games were difficult with getting one point from 27, but after that when things steadied we had a really good season over the next 30-odd games.

"That experience has stood with me and I will always be grateful to Dergview for that opportunity."

Things have steadied at Ballinamallard under the interim management of former Linfield defender Mark Stafford, who guided his boyhood club to consecutive victories over Ballyclare Comrades and Bangor.

The 36-year-old will continue to lead preparations heading into Saturday’s clash against Knockbreda before becoming Canning’s assistant manager and the new boss is delighted to have someone of Stafford’s stature involved.

"It will be a dual role over the course of this season between coaching and playing,” he said. “He has said himself that his body is feeling the effects of a career in the Irish League so he isn't in a position to be training and playing week in, week out.

"I think this is the start of a transition for him and I'm happy for him to be there.

"He commands a huge amount of respect within Ballinamallard and the Irish League for what he has achieved.

"There's a huge level of energy, hunger and desire within him in terms of his coaching and managing journey as there was in his playing career.

"He coaches how he plays - fully committed.”

Canning also paid tribute to the work carried out at Ferney Park by predecessor Harry McConkey and has now set his sights on climbing a Championship table that sees only 10 points separating current leaders Portadown and the Mallards in ninth.

"Isn't that just the Championship and the madness of it,” he added. “A couple of results can change the landscape very quickly, both positively and negatively.

"I've a huge amount of respect for Harry McConkey. I've known him for a long, long time and worked under him at Dergview 11 or 12 years ago.

"It's never nice to see someone lose their job and he has been the fabric of Ballinamallard for a long time. The two are synonymous.

"Myself, Mark Stafford and the rest of the staff have a responsibility to help the players deliver on the pitch so we can climb the table."