Gary Boyle steps down following heavy defeat to Glenavon as festive period turns sour for Newry City

Newry City manager Gary Boyle. Picture: ©INPHO/Presseye/Declan Roughan

Sports Direct Premiership: Newry City 0 Glenavon 4

Newry City boss Gary Boyle has called time on his stint as manager following his side’s 4-0 defeat to Glenavon.

Boyle explained the reasoning behind his decision, stating that the actions from sections of the team’s support led to a ‘negative undercurrent’ in recent weeks.

“I’ve made the decision that this will be my last interview. I’m going to walk away,” said Boyle post-match.

“I’ve been at the club for a long time. I’ve been here for seven years, but never once have I experienced the negativity that has been built up over the last six or eight weeks.

“It’s a great place to be, and I’m really disappointed for 99 percent of the people who are here, but I have never experienced an undercurrent like I have, particularly in the last two games.

“I have made the decision for the betterment of the club, that they can maybe get a manager in that people want, and who gets the support from the supporters that chose to come to the game to essentially berate the players and me.“I can take it, but when it starts to affect the players, I don’t know who they think they’re helping.”

On the pitch, Newry were well off the pace and made life easy for Glenavon, who had the game out of sight by half-time.

Their striker Peter Campbell ran the show, as he assisted first half goals for Danny Wallace, Stephen Teggart and Niall Quinn, whilst Newry weren’t able to work Glenavon shot stopper Rory Brown until the second half.

Georgie Poynton and Adam Salley brought the goalkeeper into action, but the hosts never looked like cutting the deficit. Substitute Aaron Prendergast put Newry out of their misery on 78 minutes, when he finished in a one on one against Steven Maguire.

Newry City – who complete the calendar year of 2023 without a single home win, and are without a victory in 12 straight league games - now have four days to prepare themselves for their next fixture, which takes place on Saturday December 30, away to Dungannon Swifts.