Glentoran have identified Jim Magilton as their preferred choice to replace Declan Devine as manager. Devine stepped down from his role at the Oval club on Monday after two years in charge, during which the team struggled with a poor start to the current season. In his absence, assistant managers Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann took charge of Tuesday night’s home match against Coleraine, the current leaders of the Irish Premiership, which ended in a defeat. Magilton, the Cliftonville manager, is now the leading candidate for the Glentoran position. The Glens have made a formal approach to discuss the possibility of him taking over, and the two clubs are set to face each other in an Irish Premiership match at Solitude on Saturday. This encounter could be a significant moment for both teams, especially as Magilton is expected to be on the sidelines as a coach rather than a player. Magilton, 57, is a former Northern Ireland international who became Cliftonville’s manager in 2023, taking over from Paddy McLaughlin. Under his leadership, Cliftonville achieved significant success, winning the Irish Cup in 2024 and ending a 45-year wait for the trophy. Before joining Cliftonville, Magilton had coaching roles at several clubs, including Ipswich Town, the Irish FA, Dundalk, and Melbourne Victory. Magilton also led Cliftonville to victory in the 2025 BetMcLean Cup, defeating Glentoran in the final. However, he was unable to repeat that success in the Irish Cup, where his team lost to Dungannon Swifts in the final two months later. His experience and recent successes make him a strong candidate for the Glentoran managerial role, though the club will need to finalize discussions with Cliftonville before confirming his appointment.