Coyle quits as Glentoran manager

Roy Coyle has resigned as manager of champions Glentoran

Roy Coyle has resigned as manager of Carnegie Premier League champions Glentoran after a poor runs of results.

The Glens crashed 5-2 away to Armagh City last Saturday, leaving them with just one win from eight league matches.

Assistant manager Tommy Kincaid will take charge for Glentoran's home game against Coleraine on Saturday.

"The decision was reached amicably. We would like to thank Roy for everything he has done for the club," said chairman Stafford Reynolds.

Glentoran's current slump left them 21 points behind runaway leaders Linfield.

The Glentoran chairman said that the Coyle had "made the decision to step down from his position".

"We understand fully the reasons and accept them. It leaves us with quite a task now to get a good replacement."

He got us into the second phase of football in Europe for the first time in 23 years Glentoran chairman Stafford Reynolds

Reynolds said that Coyle "has been the most successful manager in the history of the club".

"He's our longest serving manager. The manager who got us into Europe every year that we was here.

"He got us our first away win in Europe and was the manager who got us into the second phase of football in Europe for the first time in 23 years."

Reynolds added that he believed the majority of Glentoran fans would be "disappointed" by news of club's departure.

Coyle was given a police escort from Holm Park on Saturday as fans shouted abuse after that heavy defeat to Armagh.

Coyle, who had previously been in charge of Linfield, Ards and Derry City, came to the Oval in November 1997 to replace the sacked Tommy Cassidy.

He guided the Glens to an Irish Cup triumph just a few months later and went on to celebrate three League Championships with the east Belfast club, the last coming nine months ago when they pipped their great cross-city rivals Linfield to the title.

Glentoran won four Irish Cups during Coyle's eight-year reign, plus three CIS League Cups. They also won the County Antrim Shield on five occasions.

The names being mentioned as possible successors at the Oval include Coyle's former assistant Jimmy Brown, now in charge at Glenavon, and former Northern Ireland internationals Michael O'Neill and Alan McDonald.

Roy Walker, who guided unfashionale Crusaders to two league triumphs, would have his backers. But it is thought unlikely he could be persuaded to return to Irish League management.