FORMER Republic of Ireland defender Alan Kernaghan has been appointed Glentoran's new manager on a two-year deal.
The 48-year-old, who has managed Clyde and Dundee, replaces Eddie Patterson, who was sacked last month after three and-a-half years at the helm. He takes charge of a Glentoran side currently sixth in the Danske Bank Premiership after going on a run of six unbeaten matches under caretaker boss Roy Coyle.
Born in Leeds, Kernaghan moved to Bangor as a child and later played for Northern Ireland Schoolboys six times. However, he was declared ineligible for the seniors because of IFA policy that the player or his parents had to be born in Northern Ireland.
Kernaghan was called up to Jack Charlton’s Republic of Ireland squad in 1992 under the 'grandparent rule' after impressing in his club career with Manchester City. During his international career, he won 22 caps and was part of the Republic’s squad during the 1994 World Cup. He later lined out with a number of Scottish clubs, and was player-manager at Clyde (2002-04) and Dundee (2005-06).
Kernaghan was also caretaker manager of Brentford for a period during 2013 and has been involved in the IFA’s youth coaching set-up this year.
