Former Glentoran captain Pete Batey has praised good friend Tim McCann’s contribution to The Oval club – saying “there's nobody that would want Glentoran to win more than Tim”.

During his playing days, McCann made 281 appearances and won 14 trophies with the Glens before moving into coaching, where he worked in east Belfast under the likes of Scott Young (alongside Batey), Mick McDermott and Declan Devine.

With Duncan Ferguson appointed as Devine’s permanent successor earlier this month, McCann departed his coaching position alongside Paddy McCourt.

The duo had led Glentoran on an interim basis following Devine’s departure in mid-September, putting together a five-game unbeaten league run – the Glens also kept four consecutive clean sheets under their leadership.

placeholder image — Scott Young (second from right) with Pete Batey (right), Tim McCann (left) and Davy McClelland after Glentoran won the League Cup in March 2010. (Photo by Russell Pritchard/Presseye)

McCann previously said he would have been open to staying as part of Ferguson’s backroom team as the Everton icon settled into Irish League life, but the Scotsman opted for change with Gary Bollan joining him as assistant.

Batey, who is also part of Glentoran’s ‘250 Club’ – an exclusive group of players to make over 250 appearances – enjoyed much of his success at The Oval alongside McCann and highlighted his passion for the club.

"I’m one of Tim McCann’s biggest fans,” Batey told the News Letter. “Tim is infectious.

"I do find myself jumping to his defence for the fact that people don't know him.

"If you could get Tim's passion for Glentoran to win a football match, put it into a glass and get everybody to drink it, we would have 20 titles in 20 years! I haven’t met a bigger Glentoran fan than Tim McCann.

"He wears his heart on his sleeve, which I think sometimes he's wrongly judged on.

"With so much media around now, you say one bad word and you're crucified. Tim's heart is with Glentoran Football Club and he would move heaven and earth.

"There's nobody on a Saturday that would want Glentoran to win more than Tim, that's the truth.

"You talk to anybody who's played with him, they will tell you that he's the nicest, kindest bloke.”

Elliott Morris – a Glens legend who made 742 appearances throughout a successful career – has remained in his position as goalkeeping coach under Ferguson and will likely be providing key insights into the Irish League.

Batey believes Ferguson should also call upon former influential captain Paul Leeman – the defender played 597 times for Glentoran, winning four league titles and four Irish Cup crowns.

"I don't understand how there's not a role (for Leeman) – maybe he's been offered it and doesn’t want it, I don't know – but I don't understand how there's not a role for him at the football club,” added Batey. “Somebody like that at the club, with his experience and his passion and everything he's won, it can only be a good thing.”