Irish Premiership: What next for Larne after tumultuous 12 months?

After guiding Larne to consecutive Premiership crowns and qualification for the Conference League league stage, Tiernan Lynch turned down the chance to become manager of Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone in September 2024.

His departure from Inver Park was only delayed by two months however as he was lured to the Brandywell to become manager of Derry City in the League of Ireland.

Lynch’s vision of introducing a full-time professional set-up at Larne, complete with high-level training facilities, had matched the ambition of owner Bruce and the pair worked in tandem during the seven years of the former Glentoran assistant’s time in charge.

Following his exit, Nathan Rooney, ex-manager of Gibraltarian team Bruno’s Magpies, was appointed as his successor.

It emerged that Rooney did not possess the necessary coaching badge to lead the side in European competition, leading to first team coach Gary Haveron first assuming control for Conference League games and then in December being appointed head coach for the remainder of the season, with Rooney becoming head of football.

Despite significant fixture congestion caused by their continental odyssey, Haveron guided the team to a second-place league league finish and European qualification.

In May, it was confirmed that Rooney would be reinstalled as manager following his enrolment on a Uefa Pro Licence course but after winning through two Conference League qualifying rounds via penalty shootouts, before exiting the competition to Santa Clara, and having been in charge of a solitary domestic top flight game this term against Coleraine, his departure was confirmed on Monday.

The backroom team at the club has also undergone significant change.