Glentoran Target Cliftonville's Jim Magilton to Replace Declan Devine

Glentoran have turned to Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton as their leading candidate to replace Declan Devine at the Oval.

Devine’s two-year spell ended on Monday after a stuttering start to the new campaign, a departure that left assistant managers Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann to take charge of Tuesday night’s game. That ended in a home defeat to Irish Premiership leaders Coleraine, and underlined the urgency of Glentoran’s search.

The Belfast club have now made a formal move to speak to Magilton, who has quickly risen to the top of their shortlist. The timing adds an extra twist: Glentoran are due to face Cliftonville at Solitude on Saturday in the league, with the two clubs set to meet amid growing noise around the 57-year-old’s future.

Jim Magilton's Tenure at Cliftonville

Magilton took over at Cliftonville in 2023, succeeding Paddy McLaughlin, and wasted little time in reshaping the Reds. He delivered Irish Cup glory the following year, ending a 45-year wait for the trophy and restoring a sense of occasion to the north Belfast club.

His impact did not stop there. Magilton guided Cliftonville to the 2025 BetMcLean Cup, defeating Glentoran in the final to deepen his reputation as one of the sharpest operators in the domestic game. Two months later, his side returned to the Irish Cup final but fell short against Dungannon Swifts.

That body of work, built on the back of previous roles with Ipswich Town, the Irish FA, Dundalk and Melbourne Victory, has pushed him to the forefront of Glentoran’s thinking.

Now comes the awkward part: a manager in demand, a formal approach on the table, and a league meeting between the two clubs just days away.