McGarel replaced by Lynn at Newington Rangers

Jamie McGarel took over at Newington Rangers in May following Davy Rollo’s resignation at the end of a disappointing season.

“I had been at the club for years as a player, I told them I wouldn’t see them stuck and I would take it if they couldn’t get anybody. I was looking forward to it,” McGarel said. “Last week, I was told I was running Newington Rangers down with comments I had made on Facebook. I was later asked by the chairman to stand down.

“I just can’t believe it, especially after all the years I was at the club. Some people say I didn’t bring players in, but 90 per cent of the players we had at the club were there because of me and James Tennant.”

McGarel’s replacement is former Ballymena and Ballyclare player Geordie Lynn.

“I genuinely just came down to the club to give Paul Gibb (second-team boss) a hand,” he said. “I was enjoying doing some coaching, thinking of going back to playing, but then they offered me the job. I wasn’t looking for it ... but I wasn’t going to turn it down. It’s a good place for me to start. I want to put down a structure and get a youth team set-up, though maybe a year or two down the line.

“Paul (Gibb) is my assistant and Ernie Wilson is the coach / goalkeeping coach. I’ve also got a new manager for the Seconds in Stephen Holland.”

Whether McGarel will stay at the club is unclear but he admits at other clubs have already been on the trail.