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Gareth Fullerton

Dundela announce new manager aimed at bringing 'stability' to club

Dundela have announced the appointment of club legend Stephen Gourley as their new first team manager

Gourley returns to Wilgar Park after Paul Harbinson stepped down "due to a change in personal circumstances".

A former player, coach and Director of Football at Dundela, Gourley helped the club win promotion to the Championship during his previous spell at the helm.

Read more: Irish Cup final player ratings after Crusaders surge to 4-0 win

As player and former club captain he made 436 appearances for the East Belfast side.

Dundela said on Facebook: "Stephen is no stranger to Wilgar Park, a ‘club stalwart’ who amassed 436 games, won countless trophies, captained the club previously and won the club promotion to the championship as Manager.

"In a time of recent unsettlement following the departure of two managers in the space of seven months, the club have made this appointment to bring stability and return to the core values that are instrumental to Dundela FC as we aim to build on this season's 4th place finish.

"Joining Stephen will be another Dundela FC stalwart - Laurence Fyfe. A highly respected ex player and much sought after coach. Laurence has experienced football highs at Dundela previously as a player, Coach and Assistant Manager and has also worked at Knockbreda and Linfield.

"Ben Anderson, Tony Miskelly, Chris Binks, Steve Ferguson and Andy Harwood will form the rest of the backroom staff."

Club Secretary and Board Member Paul Moore added: "The club has been rocked with the departure of two managers in seven months, both of whom have done great jobs.

"We as a Committee have made massive strides off the park to build the club, and we felt on the pitch we were moving in the right direction also, but the loss of two managers this season has certainly had an impact.

"An appointment was needed to be made quickly, but more importantly, the right appointment was needed to be made. While many managers and coaches contacted me, and I thank them for their interest, an appointment was needed to stabilise the club and also to bring in a manager who was familiar with the club, the values the club holds and most importantly, a manager who has experience of this league.

"We needed to move at pace on this, and while I knew Stephen had offers to return to the game, I was delighted when I received Stephen’s call to say he would be interested in the job.

"Stephen ticks all the boxes required at present, he’s been there and done it, a winner for many years as a player and also a manager, who secured promotion for Dundela to the Championship.

"He knows the league, knows players, but importantly he’s a Dundela man through and through.

"In bringing Laurence and Ben with him, we gain two highly competent and experienced coaches, both sought after by premiership clubs, they both know the club and are familiar with the league.

"I’ve known Laurence a long time within the game, he’s a fantastic A Licence coach, and a coach who has developed many players in this league. Ben we were very aware of from his time at Ballymena United, he came into the club two years ago to manage our 18s, and straight away we saw the potential Ben had.

"He’s worked at first team level when Niall (Currie) was here, and under Laurence’s guidance Ben will develop even further. We are very fortunate to have two top drawer coaches in our set up.

"Tony Miskelly also brings vast experience to the staff, another stalwart of the club and a highly respected coach in football circles, Tony’s experience will be vital to our goalkeeping department.

"The four lads know Dundela inside out, they know what we require and demand from them, and importantly at a time of some turmoil regarding manager and player departures this season, all four have the contacts to rebuild the team and drive Dundela FC forward."

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