Declan Devine Leaves Glentoran as First Team Manager

By Love Belfast

September 14, 2026

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Declan Devine, Glentoran First Team Manager — Declan Devine — Glentoran FC

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Glentoran and Declan Devine have mutually agreed that he will leave his role as First Team Manager with immediate effect.

The club confirmed that Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann will take charge of first-team affairs while Glentoran begins the process of appointing a new manager.

Devine returned to The BetMcLean Oval as manager in March 2024 — almost three decades after he represented the Glens as a player. LoveBelfast covered his earlier contract extension at the club; this is the next chapter.

What he delivered

In charge, he brought silverware with a County Antrim Shield win, led Glentoran to consecutive BetMcLean Cup finals — both decided after extra time — and oversaw the club’s return to European football. Beyond results, the club says he helped reshape the first-team environment and the wider football operation.

As a goalkeeper he made 38 appearances across two seasons, with his final outing in the 1996 Irish Cup final victory over Glenavon. He leaves having won silverware with Glentoran as both a player and a manager — an association stretching back more than 30 years.

The owner’s view

Glentoran owner Ali Pour said: “Declan has poured his heart and soul into Glentoran and I want to place on record my sincere appreciation for everything he has given to this football club.

“We have shared many conversations about our ambition to bring sustained success back to Glentoran and I have never doubted his commitment to achieving that.

“Declan has always been honest with me and, following considerable reflection and discussions over recent days, we agreed that the time was right for a change. I know how difficult those conversations have been and I have enormous respect for the way Declan has handled them.

“Our ambitions remain clear. We have invested significantly in the playing squad and our football operation because we expect Glentoran to compete consistently for the biggest honours. The start to this season has fallen below those expectations and the standards required at this Club. Our expectations will not change.

“Declan leaves with my gratitude and enormous respect. He is a man of great integrity who has given everything to Glentoran and I have valued enormously the relationship we have built during his time as manager. I wish Declan and his family every success for the future.”

Paul Millar

Sporting Director Paul Millar said: “Declan’s passion, drive and determination to take Glentoran back to the top have been evident throughout his time as manager.

“He is an outstanding coach and an experienced football man. His preparation, attention to detail and the standards he demanded every day demonstrated the professionalism he brought to the role.

“I know how much Declan invested in this job and how desperately he wanted to deliver success. We shared some important moments and, while we did not achieve everything we set out to achieve, there is no doubt that he leaves the first-team environment in a much stronger position than when he arrived.

“I have enormous regard for Declan, both as a coach and as a person. The honesty and dignity he has shown throughout, particularly in recent days, says a great deal about his character.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him and have no doubt that a coach of his quality has much more to achieve in the game.”

Devine on stepping away

Devine said: “Managing Glentoran has been a tremendous honour. I returned with one ambition and that was to bring success back to this Club. I have given everything to trying to achieve that.

“After a great deal of reflection and conversations with Ali, we agreed that the time is right for me to step away and for someone else to take the Club forward.

“I would have loved to have achieved more, but I am proud of what we have built over the past two and a half years. There were fine margins along the way, with two BetMcLean Cup finals decided after extra time and a league challenge last season that went to the final day. Ultimately, we fell short and nobody is more disappointed about that than me.

“I believe there are strong foundations in place, both on and off the pitch, for the next manager to build upon.

“I want to thank Ali and Paul for their trust and support. They have invested a huge amount of time, energy and resources into moving Glentoran forward and I know how determined they are to deliver the success this Club deserves.

“I also want to thank the Board, Tim, Elliott and all of the coaching, medical and backroom staff, as well as the staff and volunteers who give so much to Glentoran.

“A special thank you to Paddy. We have travelled from Donegal together every day and his loyalty, support and friendship have meant a great deal to me.

“To the supporters, thank you. I understand your expectations because I know what this Club means to you. You want Glentoran to compete, to win and to be successful, and I leave wanting exactly the same thing.

“I hope you will get behind the players and the new manager and give them every support as they take the Club forward.

“I am immensely proud to have represented Glentoran as both a player and manager. This Club will always mean a great deal to me and I leave wanting nothing more than to see Glentoran succeed.”