Former Glenavon boss Paddy McLaughlin understands why the Lurgan Blues board decided to change manager – but wonders how different things might have been had “one of the top players in the Irish League” Peter Campbell not been injured at the start of this season.

McLaughlin departed in September following a ninth straight Premiership defeat which left the Co Armagh club sitting bottom of the table without a point.

The ex-Cliftonville chief initially made a positive impact after being appointed in November 2024, winning nine and drawing four of 21 league matches last term, but Glenavon were unable to build on that platform this season.

McLaughlin overseen a busy summer transfer window with 13 players arriving at the club while the likes of Len O’Sullivan, David Toure, Isaac Baird and Chris Atherton departed.

placeholder image — Former Glenavon manager Paddy McLaughlin. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

Talisman Campbell also missed the beginning of the current campaign through injury and only played 38 minutes under McLaughlin in a narrow 2-1 defeat to high-flying Coleraine.

The 28-year-old returned in late-October and scored his first goal of the season as Glenavon defeated Ballymena United 3-1 last weekend, but limped off against Bangor on Saturday.

Reflecting on his time at Mourneview Park, McLaughlin wasn’t shocked his reign came to an early end due to poor results.

"There certainly wasn't any bitterness,” he said on BBC Sportsound. “There was an understanding because I'm a realist and I understand football is about results.

"If you don't pick up a result in your first nine games, ultimately you're going to lose your job. That's something I wasn't shocked by.

"When you consider the circumstances we were in, you've lost four of your best players from last year, we found it difficult to replace them, and in pre-season we lost our talisman, Peter Campbell.

"Peter is the heartbeat of Glenavon Football Club and has been for a number of years, he's one of the top players in the Irish League, and if you lose that, any side will suffer.

"The players we brought in were finding it difficult to find their form, as were players we had last season, and as every week passes by without that first result, it becomes more and more difficult.

"You start listening to the noise from the outside world, you start getting burdened by the criticism - staff members included, not just the players.

"I wasn't shocked by it, I understand how the game works. If you're winning, people pat you on the back, and if you're losing, people are out to cut your throat - that's football unfortunately.

"It's no surprise that Glenavon are picking up a couple of results - Peter Campbell is back, players are finding their form. That drive Peter has is infectious throughout the team.

"Maybe if we had been given more time with Peter coming back it would have happened for us, but it's good to see it's happening now because there's good people at Glenavon.

"They put their heart and soul into the club and it's good to see they're picking up points...hopefully they can pull away from the danger zone."