Gary Thompson admits Saturday’s 2-1 Premiership triumph over Ballymena United “was a reward for all the pain” after a “really difficult week” at Portadown following Niall Currie’s exit.

Currie brought former Crusaders star Thompson to Shamrock Park and named him club captain as the Ports sealed promotion back to Northern Ireland’s top-flight in 2024.

During Currie’s second reign in the Portadown dugout, the Co Armagh club also reached a BetMcLean Cup final – a significant achievement for a then-Championship team – and finished last term in eighth.

It was confirmed Portadown had parted company with Currie on Wednesday evening with Thompson named as interim manager.

placeholder image — Niall Currie embraces Portadown's Gary Thompson, who will finish the season as interim manager. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

While delighted to start his temporary reign by ending Portadown’s eight-game winless Premiership run, Thompson admits it was hard to see boss Currie leave the club.

"It has been a really difficult week,” Thompson told the club’s media channel. “On a professional level, I understand that these things happen, but on a personal level, I had a brilliant relationship with the three lads that have left.

"Niall, Hyndesy (Steven Hyndes) and Nicky (Maye), I can’t say enough about what they have done for me the past three years. It was a pleasure and I know they’re going to go on to great things.

"They’re top, top lads. I know this is the way football clubs work and life moves on, I’m sure the board have already started the next process.

"For me, it has been difficult, but today was a reward for all the pain.

"I was delighted with the performance and result. I spoke to the boys after we copped a bit of stick last week, rightly so, we were really disappointed with our performance.

"As Niall mentioned last week, it’s not lost on us that our supporters are travelling all over the country and paying £15 for games people are calling dead rubbers.

"People can say what they want, there was nobody as disappointed in our performance as the players last week, it really hurt to put that type of performance in for our crowd.

"That was the key today, we wanted to put in a performance. It doesn’t matter how many have travelled, I thought the boys did that and they were outstanding.

"We wanted to play with pace through the middle and down the sides, and I was delighted to get Benji Wells in. He has looked really good and we wanted to roll the dice and give him a go, I thought he was super.

"We knew we would have chances on the counter and the key is when you get those moments, you have to score goals and we did that.”

Portadown moved back into eighth after securing a weekend victory thanks to goals from Eamon Fyfe and James Teelan.

Thompson is determined to round out the campaign on a high when his side visit Bangor on Saturday.

"We will have people travelling, paying their hard-earned money,” he added. “It’s always a privilege to play for this football club and I have no doubt our boys will give it absolutely everything.

"People would have called today a dead rubber, but it meant a lot to us to come here and put a performance on for the fans.

"It’s important we don’t take the foot off the gas, we’re really keen to finish the season strong.”