MARTY McCANN STEPS AWAY 6q6q49

Marty McCann, Glenavon’s first team coach, has been forced to step down due to personal circumstances. 5g5z5w

“It breaks my heart to leave but I can’t continue at present,” he said. “Telling Paddy and the rest of the backroom staff was very difficult because I have enjoyed my time at Mourneview so much.”

The 53 year old arrived last November following McLaughlin’s appointment. He, by common consent, played a pivotal role in the club’s resurgence in performances and results.

“The moment I walked through the door I felt nothing but warmth and friendliness,” he said. “I knew immediately that it was a family club with lots of good people. Of course, the fact that the team started to win games helped, but I just felt at home from the start.”

“When we arrived the players’ heads were a bit down,” he continued. “But we soon got them lifted and after that the atmosphere was right. They are a great bunch. It was a pleasure to work with them.”

McCann, a talented midfielder with Finn Harps, Derry City, Omagh Town, Ards, Cliftonville amongst other clubs, has a wealth of experience. A Pro Licence holder, he spent five years with the I.F.A. working with Northern Ireland’s underage squads and has been part of the backroom teams at Derry City, Finn Harps, Coleraine, and Cliftonville.

Eagle-eyed ers will have noticed that when the players completed their pre-match on-field preparations, Marty always encouraged them to acknowledge the Glenavon fans as they made their way back to the dressing room.

“I think that this is very important,” he explained. “The people in the stands are the lifeblood of the club. Too often they are taken for granted. I wanted our players to develop a bond with them. Players can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that the game is all about them. That isn’t the case.”

“Applauding is a simple gesture, but it creates a sense of belonging and the sort of environment in which everybody feels part of what we are trying to do,” he continued. “When players take time to acknowledge the people who give up their afternoons or evenings to come and cheer on the team and even get to know some of them personally, it motivates them.”

“I hope that the players will continue to take a few moments before and after every game to say thanks to the ers.”

Marty enjoyed working with Glenavon’s young squad. “I had heard about some of the young lads before I arrived but when I got there, I was genuinely surprised at how talented they were,” he said. “Equally importantly, they wanted to learn and improve. It made my job easy.”

Experience has taught the Northwest native what he reckons is the elixir of success. “In my opinion, football at the top level is about being humble, treating people well, working hard and not getting too down after a defeat or too high after a win,” he said. “If you do that, you’ll not go too far wrong.”

Marty will miss working with Paddy McLaughlin and Colin Coates. “The three of us gelled well together,” he said. “Paddy is so straightforward. He is exactly how he appears the first time you meet him. He is obsessed with football and is desperate for his club and his players to do well. He brings great energy to everything he does. It is infectious.”

“He also tries to play the game the way it should be played,” continued McCann. “He encourages players to get the ball down and move it quickly. He wants defenders to defend as if their lives depend on it and forwards to be positive and brave. It is not a complicated philosophy.”

Marty also enjoyed working with Colin Coates. “He is one of the most well respected figures in the game,” the one-time Derry City assistant manager continued. “He is very good with people. He treats them the right way. You don’t have to be with him for too long to understand what he is about. He is an all-round class act.”

McCann reckons that Coates will have a long and successful career as a coach and manager. “He is intelligent and eager to learn,” he added. “He wants to be as well equipped as he can be to do well. Like Paddy he loves football and has the right mentality. He will go far.”

Although circumstances have forced Marty to step away from the professional game, he plans to return. “I will definitely be back,” he said. “In fact, I will be at Mourneview Park two or three times before Christmas to see everyone again. I have played for eight clubs and coached at five. Glenavon is right up there amongst my very best experiences.”