Portadown confirm management appointment after Niall Currie exit
Portadown have confirmed an interim management team before Saturday’s Irish League game against Ballymena United – 24 hours after announcing the departure of Niall Currie as boss.
An official club statement to rubber-stamp the exit of the Portadown-born manager following a Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday night read as follows: "Portadown Football Club can confirm that it has parted company with manager, Niall Currie this evening.
“Niall and his staff have worked exceptionally hard throughout their 3.5 years at the club, achieving promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking, consolidating the club back in the top flight of Northern Ireland football as well as lifting the Mid-Ulster Cup and reaching the BetMcLean Cup Final as a Championship club.
“We want to place on record our sincere thanks to Niall and his assistant, Steven Hyndes for their efforts and wish them well for the future.
“Further updates to follow in due course.”
Now club officials have taken steps in preparation for the weekend penultimate Sports Direct Premiership road trip by announcing 35-year-old club captain Gary Thompson as part of a temporary team in charge of first-team duties alongside another experienced player, Aaron Traynor, the latter having taken on coaching responsibilities across this season alongside minutes on the pitch.
Goalkeeper Aaron McCarey, currently out injured, will also serve as part of the restructured set-up for the remainder of the season.
A Portadown statement on Thursday night highlighted: “Portadown Football Club can confirm that club captain, Gary Thompson will take charge of first team affairs for the final two Sports Direct Premiership fixtures of the season against Ballymena United and Bangor.
“Gary will be supported in the dugout by senior first team players Aaron Traynor and Aaron McCarey.
“The club can also confirm that first team coach, Nicky Maye has departed the club. We wish to put on record our thanks to Nicky for his efforts and wish him well for the future.”
Currie and his assistant Steven Hyndes were confirmed departures on Wednesday in the club statement and first-team coach Nicky Maye has subsequently opted to step down from his role.
Portadown sit 10th in the Sports Direct Premiership standings on 38 points – safe from relegation in a second successive season after a return to top-flight football as Championship champions with two games remaining in the senior schedule.
The Ports close out the campaign away to Ballymena and on the road to Bangor across Saturday, April 25.
A 4-0 defeat to Crusaders last weekend will mark the end of Currie’s time at Shamrock Park having returned to the club as boss in October 2022 after an initial spell across 2016 to 2018.
Currie was rewarded in May 2024 with a three-year contract after securing promotion out of the Championship as champions, winning the Mid-Ulster Senior Cup and reaching the BetMcLean League Cup final.
However, speculation over his future at the club proved a regular theme, in particular, across the current campaign.