Dick quits Glens after Walker row

Roy Walker said Tom Dick should quit the Glens post

Glentoran's Director for Football Tom Dick has resigned in the wake of the managerial shambles at the club.

The Glens were hugely embarrassed after Roy Walker lost the manager's post at the club last week two days after being appointed to the job.

Walker said on Wednesday that he had been asked to join the Glens board but added that he would only consider the proposal if Tom Dick resigned.

Dick told the BBC Sport on Thursday that he was "finished" with the club.

"I've had enough. I can go now and enjoy a game of golf on a Saturday," added Dick.

"If Roy Walker wants to be on the Glentoran board, that's fine. I look forward to seeing the contribution that he will make."

In a further twist on Thursday, board member Cecil McKeag also quit the club, adding that he had taken the decision in support of Tom Dick.

I feel for Tom's own sake and in the interests of the football club, he needs to step down. Roy Walker speaking on Wednesday

Walker was appointed as Glens boss last Thursday but then lost the job two days later because he does hold the required Uefa coaching licence.

Walker claimed that new boss Alan McDonald had made clear he does not want him involved with the club.

"I would consider taking a look at it should some pre-conditions be in place," said Walker of the offer on Wednesday.

"I do feel that Tom Dick, a man I have no problem with whatsoever, he's his own man, but I feel for Tom's own sake and in the interests of the football club, he needs to step down.

"Alan McDonald has stated that he wants no involvement with me at the club. So it would be very difficult for me to find a role with the current situation."

Walker is convinced that that the Uefa licencing issue could have been overcome to ensure that he took the job later this summer.

"It didn't need to be an issue if Alan McDonald, who is an A licence holder, had stayed on in the capacity that he had agreed to, as caretaker manager.

I feel I've been a pawn in a very messy game and that there's another agenda on the go Roy Walker

"Certainly the B licence would have been completed by the first week of July and I was scouring Europe for the best available A licence course.

"The IFA has a letter dated the same day I was appointed (24 May), confirmed McDonald as caretaker, unbeknownest to me and I suspect unbeknownest to him (Alan McDonald).

"Then, the IFA received a letter confirmed Alan McDonald as manager until May 2008. That was the very next day.

"This letter stated that it was signed by the chairman (Stafford Reynolds) on behalf of the board but I can confirm that several board members were not aware of this."

Walker insists that there were "a lot of options that would have made this an easy fit".

"This did not need to be the debacle that it turned out.

"I feel I've been a pawn in a very messy game and that there's another agenda on the go."