Glens' Reynolds breaks silence on Oval fiasco

Local

Thursday, June 07, 2007

By Graham Luney

Glentoran chairman Stafford Reynolds has broken his silence on the 'Walkergate' row, but has refused to enter a slanging match at the Oval.

Reynolds came under intense pressure to step down after failing to attend the press conference when Alan McDonald was unveiled as manager.

Some fans wanted all the Board members to quit their posts after the managerial shambles which saw Roy Walker appointed boss - only to lose the job two days later as he does hold the required UEFA coaching licence.

Tom Dick resigned as the club's Director For Football and Director Cecil McKeag also quit but Reynolds has no intention of jumping ship after a boardroom reshuffle.

"I was on a family holiday in Sligo when Alan McDonald gave his press conference," he said.

" Whenever a club parts with a manager as we had done with Paul Millar the media attention can be demanding and I had booked a break.

"I was also working hard to secure the Espanyol game which was finalised this week. There was a frenzy and a lot of shouting around our managerial situation and I didn't want to become involved in that. We are all part of the Glentoran family and I won't be using harsh words to anyone.

" There will always be tensions around at football clubs and differences of opinion. People are moving into different roles at the club and it's all with the very best interests of the club at heart."

The Board of Directors of Glentoran now consists of Reynolds (Chairman), Aubrey Ralph (Vice-chairman), Ted Brownlee, Ian Kerr and Jim Rodgers.

New Belfast Lord Mayor Rodgers was appointed the club's media officer on Tuesday night while supporter and management consultant Kerr was co-opted on to the Board.

A further two appointments are also under consideration and one of them is Roy Walker.

McDonald is not expected to object to that move.

"Roy is a superb person, someone who is successful and it would be tremendous to have him on our Board," added Reynolds. " It's all about building an infrastructure which is robust and will work financially. The director and managerial roles do not overlap so Alan will have no problem with it.

"The manager's job is a specific one and the directors have their own responsibilities."