FOOTBALL: John calls it a day

John informed the Management Committee of his decision to vacate the position once a replacement has been found at the Friends of Coleraine annual general meeting last week.

He told the meeting that due to personal and family pressures he would be unable to continue in the role. And reluctantly the board agreed to his resignation.

"Due to personal and family pressures I am stepping down from my role as Chief Executive," said John.

"It has been a hard decision but ultimately it is the correct one for me, my family and the club as I have to devote my time fully to my family.

"We have had a magnificent four years.

"Looking back from where the club was at when we took over until now we can see that the club has had four seasons with a positive bank balance.

"That is a tribute to the hard work which has been done not only by the Friends of Coleraine but also by the Management Committee and our sponsors. It has been incredible to watch that.

"When we were fighting for our survival in the High Court the judge asked me did I believe that the town's people were behind Coleraine Football Club and I told him that I did believe they were and that has proved to be right.

"I ask everyone that is remaining with the club to pick up the baton that's been passed on to them and see that this club continues to go on from strength to strength."

Management Committee member, Nevin Oliver, who along with Raymond Kirk accompanied John during the club's survival bid at the High Court.

And in paying tribute to John he highlighted his performance in court during the final day of the case.

"I still remember when we were on the brink of going out of business," recalled Nevin. "There was a meeting called and a lot of people got together.

"It ended up that John, Raymond Kirk and myself, on behalf of the people that were there, went to Belfast, where we spent the best part of three weeks up and down the road and in various courts to keep this club alive.

"It was a hard battle. There were points when we thought we'd lost the battle, there were points when we thought we'd won, and then the rug was pulled from under us.

"I remember clearly the final day when we were in the court.

"John volunteered to go into the stand, which was no easy thing to do given the pressure that we were under.

"I remember halfway through it Pat Nixon from the solicitors turned round to me and said: 'He has won it.'

"I wasn't sure what he meant but I had an idea and lo and behold the judge awarded us the case.

"That day the key decision was made by the judge. For me though what swung it was the detailed information which John had presented and we would like to recognise the crucial role he played at that time.

"We as an executive management board now need time to reflect on John's decision and decide the best way forward."