Larne FC: Manager Nathan Rooney leaves club one game into new Irish Premiership season

Nathan Rooney has left his position as Larne manager by mutual consent just one game into the new Irish Premiership season.

In a statement on Monday evening, the club said the decision was taken “in line with implementing our long-term football strategy and what we believe will gives us the best possible opportunity to succeed in the years to come, both on and off the pitch”.

The Englishman was brought in as Tiernan Lynch’s successor last November from Gibraltar side Bruno’s Magpies.

However, he temporarily became Larne’s head of football just three weeks after being appointed because he did not hold the licence required to lead the club in Uefa Conference League matches.

While the 35-year-old was reinstalled as manager in May after being accepted on to his Pro Licence course, he departs four days after the club were knocked out of Uefa Conference League qualifying by Portuguese side Santa Clara.

Larne also lost their opening Irish Premiership match to Coleraine and travel to Solitude to face Cliftonville on Tuesday (19:45 BST) in a game which will be broadcast live on the BBC iPlayer.

Gary Haveron, who stepped in as head coach during last season’s reshuffle, will take interim charge while the club search for Rooney’s successor.

The Inver Park club won back-to-back Irish Premiership titles in 2023 and 2024, but finished 22 points behind champions Linfield last season in finishing second.

Last month, Kenny Bruce brought his eight-year spell as club owner to an end by selling his 50% stake to North American investment firm Redball Global FC.