IRISH LEAGUE: McAlinden unsure of managerial life after Larne

The 33 year-old is set to leave his post in the coming months, it was announced after a meeting with chairman Archie Smyth last week.

“I don’t know if I will manage again as there is a question mark over that or whether I want to,” he reflected after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Lurgan Celtic. “Larne will always be a special club to me, the same way as you think about the first club you played for and look out for their results.

“I feel a lot of things inside at the minute but I will deal with those and Larne will always mean a lot to me. I will need a rest when the season ends for me whenever that will be and will certainly not be rushing into anything.

“I have been thinking about things for a little while and it has been difficult. Hopefully in my three and a half years, I hope I have made a mark.”

McAlinden also indicated the timescale of his departure from the Championship club is not yet clear: “I spoke to the chairman and discussed three options: I will continue to work hard as we have done with the staff until the end of the season, we will work until we are mathematically safe with me in charge then the club may think that is the time to get someone in to prepare for next season in mind or thirdly the club might think now is the time to make a change and prepare and I have said I am happy to go with whatever the club decides to do.

“I think the club might want me to stay and I am more than happy to continue and work as hard as we can until the end of the season.”