Duncan Ferguson has returned to club management after Glentoran appointed him on a multi-year contract.
Gary Bollan, Ferguson’s former Dundee United teammate and a previous assistant during Ferguson’s time at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, has joined him as assistant manager. Bollan has also managed Livingston, Forfar Athletic, Airdrieonians and Cowdenbeath.
His first caretaker spell included a win over Chelsea and draws with Manchester United and Arsenal. He later managed Forest Green Rovers and Inverness, leaving the Scottish club in October 2024 after it entered administration.
As a player, Ferguson represented Dundee United, Rangers, Everton and Newcastle United and won seven Scotland caps. He made 273 appearances across two Everton spells, scoring 72 goals, and helped the club win the 1995 FA Cup.
The appointment follows Declan Devine’s departure by mutual consent in September after two and a half years in charge. Devine led Glentoran to the County Antrim Shield in 2024-25, the club’s first trophy since its 2020 Irish Cup success.
Glentoran were third in the Irish Premiership after a 1-0 win over Limavady United, a result that extended their run to 13 points from their previous five matches. The club has not won the league since 2009, despite investment from owner Ali Pour and the move toward a full-time professional model.
Pour said the club had interviewed candidates from the United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavia before selecting Ferguson after several meetings in Liverpool.
The new manager also plans to live in Belfast and become involved in the surrounding community. His immediate task is to build on Glentoran’s strong recent form while pursuing the trophies the club’s leadership has made the central measure of success.