Kell Sets the Standards18 Apr
Kel McDermott isn't going to be a puppet for anybody. He is the new
manager of Larne and he is going to be the boss. The Carrickfergus
man has made that patently clear, lest anybody gets the wrong idea
because of the way he came to Inver Park.
The fact is that he was Harry McConkey's choice, the club's former
caretaker manager approaching him with the suggestion that he
consider the possibility of succeeding Shay Hamill and then
recommending him to the club.
Within days, he had been interviewed in a Carrick hotel by a
three-man sub-committee and only 48 hours later his appointment was
rubber-stamped by the board at a hastily convened special meeting
that was brought forward from Monday night to last Friday night for
that specific purpose.
The fact that the post was not advertised or that nobody else was
even considered may rankle some supporters, but little should be read
into that. There was nothing untoward about the appointment.
The club believe that the ex-Linfield and Carrick player was the
right man and he's now in the right place at the right time. With two
games left in their league championship programme, he will have an
immediate opportunity to assess the talent at his disposal.
"I met with the players for the first time on Tuesday night, some of
them I had already known and others being new to me. I had a chat
with them and advised them of my plans, hopes and ambitions" stated
the 34 year old.
"The timing of my arrival is spot on. I'm glad there are still a
couple of games to play because it means the players will get a
chance to know me and I'll have the chance to know them, rather than
wait all summer to meet one another" he reasoned.
He hasn't got a contract, he didn't want one. And, contrary to the
fears expressed by some people that he was hand-picked by McConkey
who still wanted to call the shots, McDermott is more than happy to
put their minds at ease on that score.
"Harry will be staying on as player-coach but I will be the man who
calls the shots. I am registering as a player for the club but I have
no intentions of continuing my career on the field. I will only be on
hand in case of an emergency created by injuries or suspension.
"I intend to concentrate all my energies on managing the club and I
will definitely be the boss. Indeed, Harry will have to convince me
he's worthy of his place as a player. If he doesn't measure up then
he won't be in the squad" he insisted.
Asked if things did not work out for the good friends and they found
after a while that they were not quite seeing eye to eye, who would
go, he was very adamant that it wouldn't be him.
Being fully aware of the financial position at the club, McDermott
knows he can't delve into the transfer market. But he is optismtic
that the board will ensure cash is made available should there be a
need to sign some players.
"If I see a player I need and go to the board then I would like to
think they will get the money from somewhere to enable me to sign
him. If I fancy the player strongly enough it's up to me to convince
them to ensure the resources are available."
New Manager announced 12 Apr
Larne today appointed Kel McDermott as their new manager. The 34-year old takes over at Inver Park immediately, leaving Carrick
Rangers where he was a hugely popular player.
Harry McConkey, who had been caretaker manager following Shay
Hamill's resignation, will stay on at the club as a player and
McDermott's assistant.
The former Linfield man has decided that he wants to concentrate on
the management side of things, so his playing career will take a back
seat.
For the midfielder, who was once on the books of Manchester United,
it is a move into the unknown - but one he is relishing.
"I was very surprised to be offered the job, but delighted at the
same time," said McDermott today.
"I have always wanted to go into management and even though I didn't
expect it perhaps so soon, I can't wait to get started.
"It's a real challenge for me and I aim to do the best I can. I will
be taking the training session on Tuesday night and the first thing
that I will do is to assess the current situation at the club and
then we can take it from there.
"It's good to have Harry McConkey there because he knows all the
players and we get on well, which is important."
Larne are well known for producing quality young talent and McDermott
hopes they can continue to do that. "Yes, Larne have always had a good reputation for finding youngsters
and turning them into good players," added Kel. "That will go on and there is always the possibility of strengthening
the squad by bringing more experienced players in."
Born: 03.11.62 (Belfast)
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 10.07
Occupation: Detached Youth Worker
Career: Manchester United (1979)
Ards (c/s 1982)
Bury (1984)
McConkey Singning Players for next season
26 Mar
As the arguments surrounding the future continue off the field, the
focus of attention for Harry McConkey is strengthening morale and
getting as many points as possible in the table, regardless of
whether it matters in terms of promotion or otherwise.
But he has also been planning ahead and, with ten players re-signed
for next season, he's certainly been busy.
"I said at the outset that we would be concentrating on each game as
it comes along and I will leave legislators to thrash out whatever
solution they deem best for the league structure" stated the Larne
player/manager.
"I have been looking to the future and over the past week or ten days
I must have re-signed about ten players. I want to keep this squad
together and, if we do that, I see us as being a contender for
promotion next season - certainly one of the better teams in the
First Division."
We had a free Saturday last week but we weren't idle by any means.
We played a friendly against Wellington Rec. and that was very
beneficial. The former Glenavon pair, Liam Smyth and Kevin O'Hagan, both played and did very well. Smyth played in midfield and was very impressive. O'Hagan was at left back and his distribution was excellent. It's
been a long way back for him. He has had operations on both knees for
cruciate ligament damage and his return is as good as spending
£10,000 on a player.
"Both will be in the panel for Saturday's game away to Ballyclare
Comrades. Both Stephen McDowell, recovering from a hamstring injury,
and Peter Lowry scored and that's encouraging as well" he added.
Black in Quit Sensation 20 Mar
Johneen Black is to step down from his post as chairman of Larne FC
in a few weeks' time. The local financier told the committee the news
on Monday night.
It seems he plans to stay on the board but he finds that his business
commitments are so time consuming they will no longer allow him the
necessary time to continue in the figurehead role. His work takes him all over the continent and it's a rare week that he is not away from home for at least three days. It appears he realises that is no longer a feasible option and intends to devote more time to his young wife and family. Doubtless, his intention in announcing his plans to other members of the board is to enable them to have plenty of time to seek an
adequate replacement.
Ed's note. Johneen Black gave his all to the club and under very difficult financial circumstances steered them to the top half of the league late into the season. From near bottom Johneens supervision and direction alongside Shay Hamill and, lately, Harry McConkey have proved that dedication and hard work - no matter how bleak the future may appear - do pay off. I personally would like to extend my gratitude to Mr Black and hope that he will remain in a guiding light capacity.
SIMMS COULD BE ON HIS WAY INTO FULL-TIME FOOTBALL - 08 March
A posse of top English clubs are chasing the signature of Larne's
brilliant young centre-half Gordon Simms, with Everton the new
front-runners to secure the immensely talented schoolboy. Inver club chairman Johneen Black says Goodison Park manager Joe Royle, their development officer Ray Hall and their local scout Jim Emery are all very keen on the player and will have further talks with the club this weekend.
And, as the cross-channel clubs increase their interest in Simms,
Black bullishly forecasts they will soon also be taking closer looks
as several more of the budding stars of Inver Park. Black has confirmed that Everton and Leicester City are the latest English League team to send scouts to watch young Simms, at fifteen years old already a regular first-teamer in the Irish League. Already keen on the Irish League's hottest young property are Newcastle United, Sunderland and Liverpool, who have said they are especially impressed.
Young Simms, of course, currently has ties with Ipswich Town,
having been over to Portman Road on trial on several occasions. But chairman Black insists he's just the first of many coming through on what could turn out to be a virtual conveyor belt of terrific football talent.
"A look at the present first squad will confirm just how healthy the
future appears for Larne" cites Black.
"Stephen Mills, another fifteen year old, has been in for the past
four weeks, while yet another player still short of his sixteenth
birthday is Eamon Regan. He wasn't playing last Saturday, being a
substitute, but he has played a couple of times before. Then there
are seventeen year olds, Ross Charnley and David McCormick, who have
both also slotted in very well and have great potential for the
future."
"I know some people didn't appreciate the wisdom of it when I
devoted so much time to nurturing the kids last year, going to games
with them on the mornings of Irish League match days. But I knew it would be worthwhile and I was only taking charge of them until I found the right man for the job. That was Harry Kernohan, who was winding up his playing career at Chimney Corner. Larne Colts is now a prized asset and the players involved there are the future," assured the chairman"
PATTON MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF - 08 Mar
Could it be that Larne have produced the find of the season in
20-year-old David Patton?
The former Coleraine reserve player has proven a revelation in his
new striking role.
Patton, who played as a midfielder during his days at the
Showgrounds, has already delivered 15 goals for the Inver Park club
this term, before today's games.
And Patton, who is currently studying at Jordanstown, is confident of
grabbing a few more.
"I have been surprised at how well I have done up front but the way
things are going I won't be surprised if I score a few more before
the end of the season," he said.
It was former Larne manager Shay Hamill who spotted the talents of
Patton last season - and when an approach was made by Larne to
Coleraine, Patton jumped at the opportunity of a move.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't think I could have got into the
Coleraine first team and so Larne seemed the right move," he said.
"They offered me the chance at first team football and that was the
big factor in me going down a division."
Certainly the maths and computer student has reached the Irish League
the hard way. He attended Coleraine Inst. - a school renowned for it's rugby achievements.
"I didn't even get the chance to play soccer at school as we didn't
even have a team. But it didn't put me off as I played for a number
of junior sides in the town of Coleraine."
It was while turning out for one of these youth teams that former
Coleraine manager Felix Healy brought the young acquisition to the
Showgrounds and Patton, who is rather unassuming, feels he has now
come of age.
"I'm not any fitter than before but I've matured in the game and the
15 goals are proof of that."
They are certainly proof to Premier clubs that not all of the
striking talent is lodged in the higher echelon of the local game.
And if one came along?
"Naturally I'd be interested in joining a Premier club. After all,
it's every players ambition to play in the top grade here. But I'm
more than happy with Larne and grateful to them for the opportunity
of regular games"
The Inver side, despite being knocked out of this year's Irish Cup by
Amateur League Coagh United, are bound to be happy also with Patton's
contribution this season.
New boss Harry McConkey may have a large pool of youngsters but like
Davy Patton, the future would appear to be bright for the Co. Antrim
club.
Larne Times publishes the Web Page Details - 20 Feb
"LARNE FC HIT CYBER-SPACE"
Adam Flinn formerly from Larne, who is now living in Thailand
has just set up an unofficial internet web-site for Larne FC which he
started last month. He noticed Larne were not included, and probably the fact that
Carrick Rangers had one that really got him to do the work.
So he put up a site and has had over 160 visitors since February 7
and, believe it or not, some disgruntled English League followers in
Bangkok have started to support Larne.
The site includes pictures of the squad, team details, fixtures,
league table, match reports, club news, club details, visitors book
and links to other football sites.
The URL address is: Frames version -
http://www.oocities.org/TheTropics/8584/frames.htm and No Frames
http://www.oocities.org/TheTropics/8584/larne_fc.html.
Adam gets most of his details, by email from the owner of the NI
soccer mailing list Martin Harris, a Ballymena supporter who kindly sends
me heaps of information.
Neal Simpson, of Larne, also keeps him abreast of developments and the
site is kept up to date largely through the efforts of these kind
contributions.
Adam has also written to Larne FC club secretary Bob Orr and would
like to receive official info, for inclusion to the site.
He is also interested in hearing from anyone out there who would like
to help or contribute they can contact him at email:
gemtravl@loxinfo.co.th
or fax: 6653 271680.
Adam would also be very keen to hear from the supporters clubs and
could include an on-line fanzine if sent the info.
There are now seven Irish League teams on the Net and, at least three
IFA (National Squad) support sites - all non official as far as he
knows.
