FORMER Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin has sensationally been told that he won’t be working with the Derry City first team.
McLaughlin, who was appointed as the Candystripes’ assistant-manager in April, was informed of the decision after a meeting with boss Ruaidhrí Higgins a few days before Christmas.
The 44-year-old replaced Alan Reynolds as Higgins’ number two after the Waterford native returned home for family reasons, but things just seem to have not worked out for the pair, who have been close friends for a number of years.
The Foylesiders returned to pre-season training last week and McLaughlin wasn’t in attendance, adding to the speculation that he has lost his position as assistant boss.
While neither party would confirm anything, it’s believed the Brandywell club will continue to pay McLaughlin, as talks with his representatives about his future continue in the background.
Over the last few weeks McLaughlin has watched a host of Irish League games, in fact, on Saturday he attended Larne’s 1-1 draw against Linfield at Inver Park.
Prior to joining Higgins’ backroom team, the Creggan native, who retired from playing in 2015 to take on the role of assistant manager under newly-appointed Institute boss Kevin Deery, has had a stellar managerial career.
After replacing Deery as Institute gaffer in 2017, McLaughlin guided the Drumahoe men to the NIFL Championship title in his first season in charge.
What was even more impressive during the 2017-18 campaign, was that ‘Stute’s Riverside Stadium was flooded, after they had only played one home league game that season, but despite this major setback, McLaughlin’s young side bounced back and clinched the Championship trophy.
His attacking passing style in the Premiership with ‘Stute resulted in Cliftonville appointing him in 2019 and his spell with the Reds was also exciting.
In 2022, McLaughlin guided the Solitude men to victory over Coleraine in League Cup final at Windsor Park, to win the club’s sixth league cup and his first major trophy at a football club. That same season Cliftonville narrowly missed out on the Premiership title, with old rivals Linfield pipping them by just a point.
