McMahon enjoying management role

GLENAVON'S reserve boss Gerard McMahon is nearing the end of his first season in the job and, reflecting back on a so far successful season, is enjoying his new role at the club.

“I’ve enjoyed the wins, not so much the defeats,” said the former Northern Ireland international midfielder.

“As a player you can go home and try and forget about the defeats but as a manager you think about where you went wrong and ask yourself did you pick the right team but a lot of times it’s not really your fault. You just have to think about that and just say that the best team won on the day and there’s nothing you could have done about it.

“It’s been interesting and it’s been good. I’ve been around football long enough to know what managers do and what they don’t do so I knew what to expect.

“Sometimes players calling you at three in the morning has been a bit surprising but I’m sure they wouldn’t do that if I was first team manager! They wouldn’t call Marty (Quinn) at that time in the morning! They’re young boys and are keen and eager to play football. I think they see me more as a mate than as a manager.”

With the fledgling manager recently receiving praise from Marty Quinn, is he considering making another football career this time in the management role he has taken to so quickly?

“We’ll wait and see how we go next year,” he said.

“Brendan Grimes and myself are talking to new players for next year to help things along. This is really where the hard work starts. Last year I was watching matches three and four times a week in Lurgan Park, Gordon Playing Fields, Kernan Playing Fields, here, there and everywhere. Hopefully we’ll get another couple of players in for next year.”