Gareth Montgomery resigns as manager of Glebe Rangers

GARETH Montgomery has resigned as manager of Glebe Rangers and his assistant Jason Wilmont will now lead the team into Irish Cup battle away to Bangor on Saturday January 11, it emerged today (Friday January 10).
Gareth Montgomery (pictured on the left) has resigned as manager of Glebe Rangers. This picture was taken in the summer when he was welcomed to the club by Chairman, Davy John McBride. INBM28-13 104LGareth Montgomery (pictured on the left) has resigned as manager of Glebe Rangers. This picture was taken in the summer when he was welcomed to the club by Chairman, Davy John McBride. INBM28-13 104L
Gareth Montgomery (pictured on the left) has resigned as manager of Glebe Rangers. This picture was taken in the summer when he was welcomed to the club by Chairman, Davy John McBride. INBM28-13 104L

Glebe secretary Jackie ‘Tory’ Morrison confirmed to the Times that Montgomery - who only arrived to take charge of the Championship Two club in the summer - has departed.

Despite recent disappointing results, ‘Tory’ said the club had not put any pressure on Montgomery and that the club wish him well in his future endeavours.

He revealed that a club official had asked Montgomery to reconsider his decision but to no avail.

Tory explained he believed there were a number of reasons why Gareth has bowed out at this stage including his recent involvement in running a pub in the Ballymena area and disappointment at failing to attract new names to the club despite having a lengthy target list.

And Tory conceded that the recent run of results had also disheartened the manager.

Glebe are due to meet tonight (Friday January 9) to discuss the situation and they hope to have a new manager in place before the end of next week.

There is speculation that names in the hat could include former Glebe boss Peter Cairns who previously departed the club because of work commitments.

Tory Morrison said Gareth Montgomery had worked hard to turn round recent results which included defeats to Lurgan Celtic last week; Ballymoney United after Christmas and before that Oxford United Stars in a cup game.

The club picked up a draw against Queen’s but their last victory was in the previous round of the Irish Cup against Ardglass.

Tory said Gareth had a target list of 12 signings and he had made various approaches to clubs including Coleraine and Glenavon and also local players but Montgomery was frustrated when the efforts failed to materialise.

* In another development in local football, talented Dervock footballer Gareth McConaghie, who is overcoming an injury which has kept him on the sidelines since the start of the season, has signed for Ballymoney United.