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Gareth Fullerton

Glentoran owner Ali Pour responds to 'commitment' question as he offers update

Ali Pour accepts there has been plenty of change at the Oval since he last hosted a media conference at the East Belfast stadium, but one thing that remains firm is his commitment to Glentoran.

It was back in October that Pour sat down with journalists inside the club's boardroom to discuss progress on and off the pitch.

Under then manager Mick McDermott, the club was riding high at the top of the Premiership, without barely conceding a goal, and fans were dreaming of a first Gibson Cup since 2009.

Read more: Young footballer nicknamed the 'West Belfast Cafu' seals cross-channel move

Fast forward to January and the proverbial wheels had fallen off Glentoran's title charge, the club having to deal with car park protests and the departure of McDermott, in what was a catastrophic collapse on Mersey Street.

The upheaval prompted some fans to question Pour's own commitment to the club, the British-Iranian businessman - a close friend of McDermott - having invested over £1m in the East Belfast outfit since arriving in 2019.

But during another press briefing on Tuesday inside the same Oval boardroom, Pour insisted it's 'business as usual' as far as he is concerned.

"Nothing has changed. It was hard to see Mick leave, to be honest," he said.

"We started this thing together, and I thought he would be here to the end. But a job came up in Qatar which he accepted, that was too good to pass up.

"We still speak every few weeks. He is still a board member here and involved in some parts of the club.

"But it doesn't change my position. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't leave.

"I have said this before. I am committed to this long-term, whether Mick is here or Paul (Millar), or whoever else.

"This is something I have invested heavily in and will continue to do so for as long as I can. So I am here long-term for sure."

Glentoran are now preparing for their European campaign with another new manager at the helm.

Rodney McAree - who replaced McDermott in January - stepped down from the role earlier this month to return to former club Dungannon Swifts.

Warren Feeney was quickly appointed, the former Linfield boss now taking up the reins of the Blues' bitter rivals.

Pour has described the past couple of weeks as a "new start", and hopes Feeney and his players can hit the ground running when they embark on their Europa Conference League qualifiers this summer.

"Yeah. It is a new start again. Warren will have his ideas for sure, and we will be supportive of that," Pour said.

"Hopefully we get the results we need."

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