Stormy weather forces Duncan Ferguson’s Glentoran debut to slip

Duncan Ferguson’s long‑awaited first match in charge of Glentoran has been delayed after a water‑logged Oval forced the Saturday Irish Premiership fixture against Ballymena United to be called off, meaning the 54‑year‑old will now make his debut when the Belfast side travel to Coleraine on Friday.

Appointment and expectations

The Everton legend was confirmed as Glentoran manager on Monday, becoming the club’s third manager in his career after spells at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Forest Green Rovers. He inherits a side sitting third in the table twelve games into the 2026/27 season and will be expected to challenge for the title and every cup.

Ferguson, a former Scotland international, praised owner Ali Pour and sporting director Paul Millar, saying their ambition matches his own and that he is delighted to take charge of a club with a “tremendous history”. He added that he wants to win trophies and that success will be judged on what Glentoran wins.

Storm and pitch inspection

A Storm Austen system battering the UK left the Oval pitch water‑logged, prompting a Met Office yellow warning across Northern Ireland from Saturday until Sunday and an amber warning for Saturday night with winds up to 75mph. The pitch inspection at 12:00 confirmed the ground failed the test, and why the game was called off was the unsafe surface.

The postponement also affected the Women’s Challenge Cup final between Glentoran and Cliftonville, which was called off on Friday for the same weather reasons. The club’s announcement, reported by Getty, highlighted the safety concerns and the impact on both men’s and women’s fixtures.

Debut rescheduled

Ferguson’s first appearance in the dugout will now come away to Coleraine on Friday, 30 October, with the match to be streamed live on BBC iPlayer. He will therefore lead the Glens for the first time in an away game rather than the originally planned home clash.

As a player, Ferguson scored 68 Premier League goals – the most by a Scottish player – across two spells with Everton and one with Newcastle, and he was part of the Everton side that lifted the 1994/95 FA Cup. His experience under Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez at Everton, including two caretaker stints, adds a wealth of top‑level insight to his new role.