Glentoran Target Jim Magilton as New Manager

Glentoran have moved to make Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton their top target to replace the departed Declan Devine at the Oval.

Devine’s two-year spell in east Belfast ended on Monday after a dismal start to the new campaign, leaving the club scrambling for a reset on the touchline. The handover has already begun in makeshift fashion: assistant managers Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann stepped in on Tuesday night but could not prevent a home defeat to Irish Premiership leaders Coleraine.

Now the search has zeroed in on Magilton.

Magilton top of the list

The Glens have made a formal approach to speak with the Cliftonville boss, who has quickly emerged as the frontrunner for the job. The timing adds an extra edge: the two clubs are due to meet at Solitude on Saturday in an Irish Premiership fixture, with Magilton in the opposite dugout while his future is being discussed behind the scenes.

Magilton, 57, took charge at Cliftonville in 2023, succeeding Paddy McLaughlin, and wasted little time in reshaping the club’s fortunes. He delivered Irish Cup glory the following year, ending a 45-year wait for the trophy and restoring a major piece of silverware to the north Belfast side.

The former Northern Ireland international’s CV stretches well beyond the local game. He has previously worked at Ipswich Town, the Irish FA, Dundalk and Melbourne Victory, experience that has only strengthened his appeal to Glentoran as they look for a seasoned figure to steady the club.

Success against the Glens – and a sting in the tale

Magilton’s recent record will not be lost on anyone at the Oval. He guided Cliftonville to the 2025 BetMcLean Cup, beating Glentoran in the final to lift yet another trophy and underline his growing reputation in the Irish League.

There has been heartache too. Two months after that BetMcLean Cup triumph, Cliftonville fell to Dungannon Swifts in the Irish Cup decider, denying Magilton a domestic cup double.

Even so, his knack for pushing teams deep into competitions, his recent success against Glentoran themselves, and his track record of ending long waits for silverware have combined to put him firmly in the Glens’ sights as they try to salvage their season and reshape their identity on the sidelines.