McCourt has 'no interest' in Glentoran job

Glentoran interim manager Paddy McCourt says he has "no interest" in taking the job on a permanent basis and accepts "absolute" responsibility for the club's current position.

Following a poor start to the Irish Premiership season, an agreement over Declan Devine's departure was reached on Monday, leaving McCourt and Tim McCann in charge of the team for Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat by Coleraine at The Oval.

The Glens sit eighth in the table, 12 points off pacesetters Bannsiders after taking just seven points from their first seven games.

"It was very difficult to prepare for the game after a manager loses his job," said McCourt.

"There's no secret that some players might be happy that the manager's lost his job because they mightn't have been in the team or whatever it was.

"But you know there'll be a lot of boys hurting in there, boys that he brought to the club and a lot of boys that he's quite close to so it was difficult to prepare them.

"The club are undertaking a process now to appoint a manager, Paul (Millar) asked me on Sunday night would I stay around and help Tim (McCann) out until that process happens.

"Once that happens we'll have another conversation but under no circumstances am I trying to audition for the job, I've no interest in the job I feel absolutely wholly responsible for where we are."

McCourt added that he "doesn't see myself being here without" Devine.

"I don't know what way the process will go but I know the process has started, Declan's left with his head held high, when looks at himself in the mirror he knows he gave everything to this job.

"He's the first to admit this season hasn't been good enough, unfortunately we just fell a wee bit short but Declan is a proud man and he gave everything to the job and I'm sure he'll take great heart from that."