Six on shortlist for United job

Interviews will take place later in the week for the role vacated by Roy Walker’s resignation earlier this month.

Times Sport understands that six people have been short-listed from an initial list of 16 applicants.

“We were very impressed by the standard of the applications,” United chairman Robert Cupples told Times Sport.

“Many of the names were ones that football fans will recognise, although there were also a few that we didn’t maybe know as much about.”

Cupples admitted that “not all” the applicants have been involved in Irish League football in recent times, while the chairman was reluctant to comment on whether any of the applicants are currently employed by other clubs.

“We will see what way we proceed after the interviews and to see what each of the people have to say about the position.

“Obviously we are hoping to make the right appointment to take the club forward.

“It’s not an easy time of the year to be dealing with a change of manager with the holiday period etc, but we’re keen to make an appointment soon.

“By the time we make the appointment, we will probably be into early January and we know that time is ticking as far as the January transfer window is concerned.

“The new man coming in will probably have his own ideas about which players he wants to get rid of and which players he will want to bring in, so we want him to have as much time as possible to do that.”

Opinion among supporters on internet forums is divided, with fans unable to reach a consensus on whether the club should appoint an experienced head or a ‘fresh face’.

Whoever comes in will have to plan without defender Liam Watson, who has left the club by mutual consent.

The Antrim hurler was only signed by Walker earlier this season but had been suspended by the club in recent weeks following a breach of club discipline ahead of the 7-3 defeat by Cliftonville last month.

His departure, along with that of winger Eamonn Murray in recent weeks, will free up some funds for the new manager to work with in January.

The new man is unlikely to be in place ahead of this Saturday’s Carling Premiership match against Donegal Celtic at the Showgrounds (3pm), which is likely to be caretaker manager Joe McCall’s final game in charge.