Hamilton departs Glenavon job after 12 years in charge

Gary Hamilton
Author: Gareth McCulloughPublished 13th Sep 2023

Gary Hamilton has left Glenavon after 12 years as Manager.

The former Northern Ireland striker, who enjoyed spells as a player with the Lurgan Blues, as well as a prolific goalscoring career with Portadown and Glentoran, parted way with the Mourneview Park side after a disappointing start to the new Sports Direct Irish Premiership.

Five defeats in the opening seven games of the new campaign sees Glenavon in the bottom two of the top flight and it seems last Saturday's 3-1 defeat away to Dungannon Swifts proved to be the final straw for the club's board.

Hamilton has had to deal with the loss of a number of high-profile players during his long tenure, with the likes of Mark Sykes, Bobby Burns, James Singleton and Josh Daniels amongst others, moving onto pastures new.

Top goalscorer Matthew Fitzpatrick departed for Linfield during the Summer and Glenavon have struggled with his loss so far this campaign.

Hamilton won the Irish Cup as Manager of his boyhood club in both 2014 and 2016.

It will now lead to speculation as to who will step into the role at one of the most historically successful clubs in the country.

Those out of work at present include ex-Linfield and Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey, former Newry City Manager Darren Mullen and both Kenny and Dean Shiels.