Walker on course for seat on Board

Local

Friday, June 01, 2007

By Graham Luney

Tom Dick's resignation as Glentoran's Director For Football could see Roy Walker secure a place on the club's board.

However, the fallout from the managerial shambles at the club is set to continue as new manager Alan McDonald only agreed to sign a two-year contract at the Oval if Walker was no longer in his shadow on Mersey Street.

The Glens have become the laughing stock of the local game after Walker lost the manager's post at the club last week - only two days after being appointed to the job.

Dick is the first casualty of the crisis which has brought dishonour to a club which should be celebrating its 125th anniversary in style.

But he isn't the only one as it also emerged yesterday that another board member, Cecil McKeag, who publicly backed Dick during the sorry saga, also stepped down.

And there could even be moves now to install Walker as the club's new Director For Football.

The Oval boardroom has seen some feisty exchanges in recent days and it remains unclear whether other directors will try to cling on to their positions.

Chairman Stafford Reynolds is under fierce pressure to step down after failing to attend the press conference when McDonald was unveiled as manager on Tuesday. As one fan put it: "In the darkest hour in the history of the club where was the chairman?"

Reynolds' allies Jim Rodgers and Aubrey Ralph may also try to keep their seats on the board.

A question mark also hangs over the head of director Ted Brownlee, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Dick on Tuesday.

Many Glentoran fans would love to see a summer clearout in the boardroom but those left in power may try to weather the storm.

When McDonald left for Moldova with the Northern Ireland Under-21 party on Tuesday he wanted an end to the negative publicity which has damaged the club but he was wishful thinking. Walker, who was appointed as Glens boss last Thursday but then lost the job two days later because he does hold the required UEFA coaching licence, said: "I had said before that Tom's resignation was one thing that needed to be in place before I considered a place on the board.

"I genuinely wish Tom well for the future. I'm sure he will enjoy some quality time away from football. Maybe in the future he will return to the game. I have given my side of the story up to this point and I am not someone who makes knee-jerk reactions so we will wait and see what happens."

McDonald told Oval chiefs he would only become manager at the club if Walker was no longer involved behind the scenes so the former Crusaders and Glenavon boss has hurdles to overcome in the path back to his boyhood club.

"Alan McDonald has stated that he wants no involvement with me at the club," he said.

"So it would be very difficult for me to find a role with the current situation."

Meanwhile, Dick said yesterday he was "finished" with Glentoran.

"I've had enough," he said. "I can go now and enjoy a game of golf on a Saturday. If Roy Walker wants to be on the Glentoran board, that's fine. I look forward to seeing the contribution that he will make."

Chairman Stafford Reynolds was still unavailable for comment.