Duncan Ferguson is set to make a managerial return by taking the manager's job at Glentoran. GOAL said Ferguson has agreed a deal to lead Glentoran following lengthy negotiations with club owner Ali Shams Pour and is due to be officially unveiled on Monday, 19 October.
Return to management
According to the Belfast Telegraph, Ferguson is poised to take the reins at the BetMcLean Oval. He has been unattached since ending a 13-month spell at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in October 2024.
Vacancy and applications
Declan Devine vacated the Glentoran manager's position in September. According to the Belfast Telegraph, Glentoran did not officially advertise the managerial vacancy following Devine's departure.
Ali Shams Pour, the club owner, said: "There has been so much interest in the job and we did not advertise this position at all. After Deccy left and word got out from there we were inundated with applications and agents calling us and ex-players calling us. Very quickly we had lots of CVs sent to us and while some were okay many were from amazing highly qualified managers."
Who showed interest
GOAL said it is understood that high-profile figures from across Europe, including Peter Lovenkrands, registered their interest in the job.
Ali Shams Pour said: "These are people used to playing in leagues like the Premier League in England, in the Premiership in Scotland and the top division in Denmark. We did wonder if they really wanted to come to our league but they really wanted it. I believe the interest in the job from so many highly qualified people shows the size and appeal of Glentoran and just how big a football club we are."
Glentoran's current position
Glentoran have had an unbeaten spell under interim duo Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann. Glentoran have endured a title drought since 2009, missed out on silverware on the final day of last season, and there is a 14-point gap between Glentoran and league leaders Coleraine.