Signs will point to Carnlough’s Rodgers connection

Local councillor Maureen Morrow, who proposed the move at a meeting of Larne Borough Council’s policy and resources committee on Monday, also urged Mayor Gerardine Mulvenna to invite Mr Rodgers to a reception at the earliest opportunity.

The council hopes that the coach may take time out when he brings the Premier League side to play Crusaders in a friendly in August.

Proposing that the council commission welcome signs declaring Carnlough as “Birthplace of Brendan Rodgers Premier League manager”, Cllr Morrow said: “I feel that Brendan deserves some recognition. He is a Carnlough man who has done very well.”

She added that some Liverpool fans had already travelled to the village where the manager spent his formative years, which suggested there could be a tourism spin-off for the area.

“If people will stop off in Carnlough to see where Brendan Rodgers grew up, I think that would be very worthwhile,” Cllr Morrow added.

Seconding, her Ulster Unionist colleague Cllr Mark McKinty expressed the hope that the friendly with Crusaders might be the ideal opportunity for Rodgers to visit the mayor’s parlour.

DUP councillor Bobby McKee said he had extended an invitation to the then Swansea City manager during his term, which ended this month.