GLENTORAN manager Declan Devine has warned his young players at The Oval to be aware of the perils of using social media. In the modern era, footballers and particularly younger players are acutely aware of their profile on social media platforms.
When things are going well, everyone is your friend – but when the chips are down some of the negative feedback can be damaging to players, on and off the pitch.
Aged 51, when Devine was growing up and playing in Derry, communicating with friends was done either face to face or over the telephone. He reveals he does have a presence on social media, but says he controls his use of it and warns that it can be a double-edged sword.
“We speak all the time about these things and I am actually on social media,” said the former Glens goalkeeper.
“I use it for networking and staying in touch with family and friends; it’s easier to stay in contact with those outside the country or former team-mates.
“I use it in a positive manner, whether we win, lose or draw on a Saturday I’m genuinely not looking for compliments or kicks in the teeth.
“I don’t need someone to say ‘well done today’ if we won all three points and I don’t need anyone to kick me in the teeth if we don’t. I stay away from that aspect of it.
“That’s my advice to players, if you need your ego massaged or you want a pat on the back for a certain post then you better be prepared for the other side of it.
“Draw a line under what you want out of it but it’s such easy access to assassinate, especially some young players.
“I think a lot of experienced players can take it with a pinch of salt but it’s so easy under a fake account to make personal remarks. It could knock the stuffing out of an 18 or 19-year-old player.”
After leaving the Oval for Derry City in 1996, Devine went on to manage his hometown club – in three stints at the Brandywell – and Bohemians in the Airtricity League. Another League of Ireland institution, Dundalk, made the headlines this week for all the wrong reasons.
The Co Louth club dominated domestic football in the Republic of Ireland for an eight-year period under Stephen Kenny and Vinny Perth, winning five league titles and three FAI Cups.
Dundalk also qualified for the group stages of the Europa League twice and locked horns with Arsenal just four years ago.
However, the club went into decline and was only saved from extinction following an 11th hour takeover on Monday night.
Glentoran endured their own financial hardships before Ali Pour bought the club in 2019 and Devine says there should have been more safeguards put in place to protect clubs in the south.
“If you had told me four years ago when Dundalk were in the group stages for a second time that they would be so close to going to the wall and out of existence, I would have said you were mad,” he admitted.
“You can chase the dream too quickly – there are warning signs there with Dundalk.
“I could not understand why a fit and proper person check wasn’t done through licensing rules by the FAI and that was a major concern.
“Nearly every club in the League of Ireland has almost gone to the wall. Some have gone and not come back.
“The licensing has got to be really stringent. Players, supporters, managers and staff need to be assured there is enough funding to honour contracts.
“That is key. We are very fortunate here (at Glentoran) where we have an investor willing to support the club.
“But over the last 20 years, it is my experience as a coach, assistant manager and manager that it happens too often. “A lot of clubs across Ireland are living day by day and that is a concern for football on this island.”