Bannsiders’ boss sad as another falls victim in the ‘mad world of management

Patterson was sacked as manager of Glentoran just minutes after watching them beat Carrick Rangers 2-0 .

The former Cliftonville boss took up the post in February 2012, and led the team to Irish Cup successes in 2013 and 2015.

However in a statement on their website the club said that the board of Directors took the decision due to concerns over League performances this season and what they described as a “deterioration” in the club’s league position over the last three seasons.

Speaking after watching his own side see off Dungannon Swifts, Kearney said he was saddened to see another manager lose his job.

“No one has control over injuries or suspension, it’s a very helpless job at times,” said Kearney.

“I think all the managers in the league will tell you we’re a very tight knit bunch.

“When Tommy Breslin went I’m sure he got word from everybody, and when Gerrard Lyttle was appointed myself and the rest of the lads were wishing him well.

“It is a tough job, and there are times when you stand out there and it’s made even harder when you don’t have your best players available.

“It’s not nice to see any manager lose his job and I have had a good relationship with Eddie over the years.”

Kearney said the world of football management was ‘a mad one’, which begs the questions why anyone would want to put themselves through it.

“It’s a mad world, but when you do get a win it sets your whole weekend up and has a massive impact on everyone,” he said.

“Having finished my career early through injury it was the social side you missed the most, you longed for the craic.

“You try your hardest not to take the pressure home with you, but we’re all human and at times it is hard not to do that.

“I had a very hard period last October/November time, and I think it’s then you need good strong people about you.

“We’ve always kept our vision of what we wanted to achieve and how we want to go about it.

“It can affect you as much or as little as you let it.

“As a player I got plenty of abuse and I’ve got bits and poeces as a manager too, so I’m used to it.

“But the day I stop believing in my principles and how I want to do things is the day I walk away from a club too.”

The Bannsiders 1-0 win over Dungannon gave them their fourth league win on the bounce since 2011, and Kearney is delighted his young players are doing the business .

“We had a choice probably about this time lat year that the route we wanted to go was to introduce the young players,” he said.

“For the first time in a long time, and credit to Paul Gaston and Johnny Law and our Academy and all those who do sterling work in this area we have produced a lot of quality players, who are ready to break through at 18 or 19 years old.

“It is a leap of faith, there’s no doubt about it. At the start of the season I had eight teenagers in my squad of two, which also included two goalkeepers.

“We are very young, but I think we have picked very well in our young players and also picked very well in our senior players like Stephen Douglas, Howard Beverland, Neil McCafferty and Ruaidhri Higgins to name a few, who are great role models for the young players.

“It is working for us at this moment in time. It’s refreshing for me and everyone about the club to see such a local identity at the club.