They say great players don’t make great managers.

Glenn Ferguson is hoping to take hold of that particular theory and crush it.

In modern day local football, nobody has been greater than the man known throughout the game here as ‘Spike’.

He’s a true Irish League legend having scored over 550 goals when terrorising the opposition for Ards, Glenavon, Linfield and Lisburn Distillery.

He was a coach with the Whites earlier in the season.

Just after Christmas he stepped up a rung on the football career ladder to take over as manager of Ballymena United.

Labelled as a sleeping giant for more years than the Ballymena fans care to remember, it is up to 42-year-old Ferguson to shake the club from its slumber.

“In my view you are only a sleeping giant if you manage to wake up and win something,” says Spike.

“In my short time here, without question I have witnessed that the club has great potential.

“The training facilities and the stadium are excellent. We also have feeder clubs from the town supplying us with young talent and the board are very supportive so there are a lot of things in place. It is up to us to use all that and take the club forward.”

The “us” Ferguson talks about relates to his backroom team — like himself, perennial winners when they played for Linfield.

There’s the affable Norman Kelly who always has a smile on his face, Lee Doherty, a midfield general respected all over the land, and the straight-talking goalkeeping giant Wes Lamont.

“I wanted to have good men around me and all three are in that category,” says the former Northern Ireland striker.

“Norman wants to coach and is fantastic with all the players, Lee is a very intelligent man who knows a lot about the game and when he speaks, you listen to him because his advice is always sound and Wes has been there and done it as a goalkeeper, so is ideal to coach that position.

“We are trying to instill our knowledge and winning mentality on the players.”

So far, results have not been outstanding, but it is worth noting that the fixture list has not been kind, with Ferguson facing most of the top teams in the Carling Premiership in his first month in charge.

Ballymena are now entering a period where they’ll face sides in the bottom six of the table. That should help the Braidmen ease away from relegation fears.

“The league results haven’t gone the way we would have liked but there has been a positive response from the players since our arrival,” says Ferguson, who took over from Roy Walker.

“What was clear when we came in was that the confidence of the players was low and the fitness levels were low.

“Obviously, with those two factors, positive results were going to be hard to come by.

“We’ve tried to make training enjoyable and endeavoured to make the players fitter and I think it is starting to show.

“Obviously every manager wants to strengthen his squad and we will hope to do that in the summer but, for now, this is our chance to work with the existing players and assess everyone’s ability.”

Ferguson says he is not missing playing as much as he thought he would, adding that he is revelling in his new role which he combines with his day job as Kukri sportswear’s teamwear sales manager for Northern Ireland.

Always looked upon as a one of the boys as a player, Ferguson says he has no problems making big decisions as the boss.

“I don’t find it hard at all to drop players or make tough calls,” he says.

“ That’s part of my job. In terms of team selection the final decision is with me. Ultimately I’ll be the one who takes the blame if things wrong, so I’m happy to make big calls. It’s part of the job.”

Tonight, as part of his job, Spike will be preparing his team for Saturday’s Irish Cup last 16 clash with Amateur League outfit Derriaghy.

“With Coleraine having reached a final this season it would be great for our fans if we could go all the way to the Irish Cup decider because it’s hard to take when your derby rivals do well.

“Also, Ballymena haven’t won anything since 1989. That’s a long time. Too long.

“First though we have to beat Derriaghy on Saturday. We won’t underestimate them but it is a game I expect to win.”