United skipper quits football due to work commitments

GARY Haveron has announced his retirement from Irish League football after leaving Ballymena United due to work commitments.

The Sky Blues skipper has had the remaining year of his contract terminated by mutual consent after he found he was unable to juggle the demands of his new job with training and matches.

Haveron was recently appointed as development officer of a major new sports complex in his native Larne and he told Times Sport: “I’m involved with coaching sessions a lot of nights in the week and it’s not realistic to think I would be considered for selection if I’m only training once a week.

“It’s not really the way I would have liked to have ended my football career but I’ve got a long-term contract with this job and my family has to take priority.

“I’ve already told Roy that if I can help him out in any way, I’ll be there like a shot.

“I absolutely loved my time at Ballymena – apart from the two leg breaks that is! But the people were fantastic to me and they certainly haven’t seen the last of me around the Showgrounds – I’m still a Ballymena supporter.

“It’s certainly not a case of me leaving Ballymena to join another Irish League team – my brother-in-law runs a wee team in Larne so I might play a bit for them but I just cannot give the commitment needed to play at a higher level.”

United boss Roy Walker was glowing in his praise for Haveron, who twice battled back from breaking his leg under Walker’s tenure.

“We offered Gary the possibility of a coaching role but his time constraints with his job means he can’t make himself available.

“While his contract has been abandoned, the door has been left open that should his domestic situation change we can look at it again. He has said ‘if you need me, phone me’.

“He is right to bed down his domestic situation. Jobs are hard to come by and this one has come his way. It’s a full-on job, four nights a week.

“I wish Gary every success and thank him from the bottom of my heart for his absolute commitment to Ballymena United.

“Gary was the player who I offered the longest contract to in my time at Ballymena and that tells you what we think about Gary.

“With one year of his contract left, he could have bluffed it and threw a sickie or come down one night a week but he did the honourable thing and he is to be respected for that,” added Roy.

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