'I wanted to walk away on a high': Darren Mullen steps down as Newry boss
He's been at the helm of his hometown club for 10 years
Darren Mullen is stepping down as manager of Premiership side Newry City AFC, the club have announced.
The 50-year-old departs the club after 10 years as first team boss, having all but secured their top-flight status with a game of the current season still to go.
Mullen will be in the dugout to take charge of his hometown team for one final game when City travel to take on Dungannon Swifts this Saturday.
"I wanted to walk away on a high, in terms of keeping the club in the Premiership," he said.
"There's pressure enough as it is, but the pressure I put on myself to keep us in the Premiership. Anyone could see my reaction on Saturday...it was just pure elation. I'm just delighted for everyone at the club that they can look forward to Premiership football again next season and I look forward to coming down and watching them as a supporter."
On what the future in football hold for him, Mullen says he won't be jumping into another role straight away.
"I honestly don't have a plan.
"I love coaching and I'm a hands-on type manager. I do see myself involved somewhere at some point, but I do need a bit of a rest first and have some family time."
Having been a key figure in the restoration of the club after the previous incarnation of City went out of business in 2012, Mullen took the reins for the newly-founded Newry City AFC for their maiden season in Mid-Ulster Intermediate League B in 2013.
He led the club to four promotions in five seasons, culminating in a return to the top-flight in 2018.
With City all but safe in the top flight for another season - barring a 13-0 defeat to Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park on Saturday, Mullen says there will be plenty of emotion as take charge of his hometown club for the final time.
"It's going to be tough," he admits.
"One of the things I wanted to do was go out before the last game of the season so I could have that goodbye with the fans on Saturday. It's been a massive part of my life for the last 14 years. It's been huge.
"I don't know how I'm going to react, but I know it's going to be difficult."