McDonald to stay on as Glens boss

Glentoran manager Alan McDonald was subjected to abuse after the 6-0 defeat

Former Northern Ireland international defender Alan McDonald is to stay on as manager of Glentoran, the Belfast club announced on Wednesday.

There had been speculation that McDonald was about quit the Glens in the wake of Saturday's 6-0 humiliation at the hands of Coleraine.

McDonald did not attend Tuesday's cup win over Glenavon on medical advice.

"Alan is looking a lot better and is in a much more positive frame of mind," said Glentoran chairman Aubrey Ralph.

"His intention, if he is well enough, is to attend Saturday's game.

"Possibly, he will just watch the game from the stand and not in the dug-out.

"But he is planning to stay on as manager."

Ralph has been fiercely critical of the verbal abuse McDonald was subjected to after the heavy defeat at the Oval.

Some fans staged a demonstration outside the officials' entrance at the Oval, calling for McDonald to be dismissed.

Champions Glentoran, now in third place and six points behind leaders Linfield, are away to second-placed Crusaders on Saturday, kick-off 14000 GMT.

McDonald's coaching staff, former Glens stars George Neill, Scott Young and Tim McCann, took charge of the team on Tuesday night.

Glentoran beat Glenavon 3-2 to complete a 5-4 aggregate win in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.