Former Larne striker David McDaid has praised manager Gary Haveron's impact, describing the job he has done as 'nothing short of unbelievable'. McDaid, who knows Haveron personally from their time working together, highlighted the 45-year-old's role in maintaining Larne's status as title contenders.
"I know the guy personally, I've worked with him for years...he's a great, great man," McDaid said. "He knows the game of football and the job he has done is nothing short of unbelievable."
Haveron stepped up from assistant to head coach last season and led Larne to the Premiership title, their third Gibson Cup in four years. His record stands at 25 wins and seven draws from 37 games in charge, including an 18-match unbeaten run last term. That winning habit has carried into the new campaign, with Larne currently third in the table on 13 points from five matches. They are six points behind leaders Coleraine but have won their last four league games, including a 2-0 victory over Cliftonville last weekend.
McDaid drew parallels with top-level management, suggesting Haveron shares a trait with elite coaches. "I think (Jose) Mourinho used to be the best at it, when his teams didn't play that well, they always found a way to win," he said. "When you have a habit of winning, you find a way to win, and Larne seem to have that the last few years."
The former forward also cautioned against writing off any rivals in the early stages, noting that last season's title charge only gathered noticeable momentum around December. Larne's immediate focus is on continuing their form, with a home game against Crusaders next on the schedule in December. Fans can view the full fixtures list. Haveron's side will aim to extend a run that has seen them score seven goals and concede just one in the league so far.
The original report is at newsletter.co.uk
