Supporters update

Cliftonville Chairman Paul McKeown has issued an update to supporters as the Club continues the process of appointing a new Manager.

A week on from Paddy McLaughlin’s decision to step down after four years at the helm, Mr McKeown elaborates on plans to transition towards a hybrid playing model and the forthcoming installation of the Club’s first ever full-time boss.

“Over the course of the last seven days, we’ve received a lot of interest in the Cliftonville Manager’s job, with applications or expressions of interest coming in from right across Ireland and the UK,” he says.

“There will obviously come a time where we have to implement a cut-off point on applications but we think it’s sensible to be as patient as we need in order to get the type of candidate we want.

“With the incoming Manager being a full-time appointment, that obviously represents part of a big change at the Club. We’re moving towards a new playing model that will see full-time footballers working alongside those who have careers outside of the game and we will be looking for a Manager who can oversee that process.

“It’s a very demanding job and we don’t believe asking someone to do it on a part-time basis would be beneficial to them or to Cliftonville FC. It’s important we do everything we can to ensure the Manager has all the necessary tools to do the job, and operating in a full-time environment will be a big help in that regard.

“As work goes on behind the scenes, we will continue to give Declan O’Hara our complete support having asked him to take charge of first-team affairs. We know our fans will also back him to the hilt and it was great to see players and supporters alike producing such a vibrant performance in Saturday’s game with Crusaders.

“There’s still so much to play for during the rest of the season and we know everybody who has Cliftonville’s best interests at heart will rally behind Declan and the players.”

On former boss McLaughlin, who has since been appointed to Ruaidhri Higgins’ backroom team at Derry City, the Reds Chairman added: “Paddy did a great job here and we wish him very well.

“I think any football fan can identify with the emotions of being involved with the Club you grew up supporting, and Derry were always Paddy’s team so I’m sure it’s a very proud feeling for him to be working there. We know he also took great pride in the job he did at Cliftonville and it was a tough decision for him to leave because he’d built up a great bond with the players and fans.

“Having the distraction of that link with Derry hanging over him wouldn’t have been beneficial to anyone at our Club in these final few weeks of the season, which is why the decision was taken by him to go when he did. We’re grateful for the job he did here and we wish him good luck for the future.

“Football moves on quickly, though, and we have an important few weeks ahead of us. Declan and the players will be working hard on the pitch while, off it, we’ll continue working thoroughly as we seek to appoint a full-time Manager.”