Jim Magilton Stays at Cliftonville as Glentoran Continue Manager Search

Jim Magilton will remain in charge of Cliftonville after deciding against a potential move to Irish Premiership rivals Glentoran.

The east Belfast club had identified the former Northern Ireland international as a leading candidate for its vacant managerial position and formally requested permission to speak with him.

However, Magilton will not be moving to The Oval. Instead, the 57-year-old will continue his work at Solitude and is expected to lead Cliftonville against Glentoran when the two clubs meet in Saturday’s Premiership fixture.

The decision means Glentoran must look elsewhere as the club attempts to find a successor to Declan Devine.

Glentoran’s approach comes to nothing

Glentoran began searching for a new manager after Declan Devine left his position by mutual consent following a disappointing opening to the season.

Magilton’s experience, knowledge of the domestic game and record of delivering silverware made him an understandable target.

LoveBelfast recently included the Cliftonville manager among the leading contenders while examining who could become Glentoran’s next manager. Persuading him to leave a direct Premiership rival was always likely to be one of the more difficult options available to the Glens.

Cliftonville’s decision to retain Magilton will be welcomed by supporters, particularly with the two Belfast clubs preparing to face each other at Solitude.

The fixture now carries an additional layer of intrigue. Magilton will be in the home dugout against the club that had hoped to make him its next manager.

Magilton’s successful spell at Solitude

Magilton took charge of Cliftonville in 2023, replacing Paddy McLaughlin, and has since added two major trophies to the club’s honours list.

His first season ended with Irish Cup success as the Reds brought a 45-year wait for the trophy to an end.

Cliftonville followed that achievement by winning the 2025 BetMcLean Cup, defeating Glentoran in the final. Magilton then guided the north Belfast club to another Irish Cup final two months later, although Dungannon Swifts denied the Reds a second consecutive triumph.

That record has strengthened Magilton’s reputation within the Irish League and explains why Glentoran viewed him as a serious candidate.

Before taking the Cliftonville job, he built up extensive coaching and management experience with Ipswich Town, Dundalk, Melbourne Victory and the Irish Football Association.

Search continues at The Oval

Devine’s departure ended a two-year spell at Glentoran during which the club won the County Antrim Shield but failed to mount the sustained Premiership challenge supporters had hoped to see.

Questions had already been raised about why Glentoran’s talented squad was struggling to produce consistent results before the managerial change was confirmed.

Assistant managers Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann took temporary control for Tuesday evening’s home match against league leaders Coleraine. That game ended in another defeat, underlining the scale of the task awaiting whoever eventually takes charge.

McCourt and McCann are expected to remain responsible for first-team affairs while the Glentoran board considers its next move.

Magilton’s decision removes one prominent name from the process, but several experienced candidates are likely to remain under consideration.

All eyes on Saturday’s Belfast encounter

Saturday’s meeting at Solitude was already an important Premiership fixture, but recent events have given it an added edge.

Cliftonville can now approach the game with greater certainty over their manager’s future, while Glentoran arrive with their search for Devine’s replacement still unresolved.

For Magilton, the focus returns to football and continuing the progress he has made in north Belfast. For the Glens, the challenge is to identify a manager capable of delivering stability, improving results and meeting the considerable expectations surrounding the club.

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