Article: published on 6 August 2024

It's been a close season of great change at Glentoran as manager Declan Devine has set out to put his stamp on the club after being appointed to the position on a permanent basis after a spell in interim charge during the latter stages of the last campaign.

A tame Irish Cup semi-final defeat and a disappointing league finish, exacerbated by a timid exit to Coleraine at the semi-final stages of the European play-off semi-finals, precipitated major changes in playing personnel at the Oval.

A host of experienced players have left the east Belfast outfit as Devine seeks to rebuild a squad capable of challenging for honours and most specifically the league title. The ex-Derry City boss has also brought in former Northern Ireland international Pat McCourt as his assistant while Tim McCann returns as first team coach.

Transfers In: Andrew Mills, Charlie Lindsay, Daniel Gyollai, Dylan Connolly, Frankie Hvid, Wassim Aouachria.

Transfers Out: Aaron McCarey, Aidan Wilson, Bobby Burns, Daire O'Connor, George Feeney, Junior, Luke McCullough, Ollie Webber, Rhys Marshall, Rory Donnelly, Seanan Clucas, Shay McCartan, Sean Murray.

Joel Taggart's take: Where do you start?!

As far away from winning the league as ever despite recent financial investment. Given the massive turnover of players again this summer it’s easy to see why fans at the Oval are scratching their heads and asking serious questions about player recruitment and how the money has been spent.

Last season they dropped 45 points in games against the top seven so they need to start beating the teams around them in the table if they’re to make any significant progress.

Opening fixtures: 9/8 - Crusaders (h) - live on BBC Sport NI; 17/8 - Portadown (a); 20/8 - Coleraine (h); 23/8 - Carrick Rangers (a)