No player’s position is safe - Ferguson

Glenn Ferguson has warned his Ballymena United players that no-one’s position is safe in the build-up to next month’s Irish Cup semi-final.
Ballymena United manager Glenn Ferguson. Picture: Press Eye.Ballymena United manager Glenn Ferguson. Picture: Press Eye.
Ballymena United manager Glenn Ferguson. Picture: Press Eye.

The April 5 date against rank outsiders Queen’s University is now the pivotal date in United’s season after they slipped out of contention for a top six league finish after Friday night’s 3-0 defeat at Glentoran.

That result means that even if Ballymena win their final two pre-split games - the first at Crusaders this Saturday (3pm) - they are still likely to come up short.

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“Our players are under no illusions about what is expected of them,” said Ferguson

“Not one player is guaranteed their place, probably with the exception of Aaron Shanahan simply because he is the only senior goalkeeper we have. Every other player’s place is up for grabs - they can think they have one eye on the semi-final and just teeter through the rest of the games - that’s just not going to work.

“I mean Allan Jenkins, Jim Ervin, David Cushley, Darren Boyce - players who would all be usual starters - nobody is safe after last week.

“The players were told before the game they had to put in a performance and I don’t care whether it’s players who have played well for 10 games and have maybe had one bad game - if I feel like changing it after that performance, I’ll change it.

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“Both games we have left are now must-win games. Our job is to lift the players during the week, pick a team we think can win and the ones who probably will be left out have absolutely no reason to come and knock my door.

“But there are players who might come in this week and show me that they are capable of doing a job and are up for the challenge because an awful lot let themselves down on Friday.

“The performance levels have to be kept high. I’m not going to take the shirt off anyone unless they’re injured - if people are playing well, they’ll stay in the team,” added Ferguson.

* Seven Towers Supporters’ Club transport to Saturday’s match leaves Henry Street car park at 2pm.

Anyone intending to use Seven Towers transport to the semi-final - including club members - are reminded that they need to purchase a bus ticket from either Tommy Patterson or Uel Allen.

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