Paddy McLaughlin, the former manager of Cliftonville, resigned from his role as assistant manager of Derry City, a team in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
McLaughlin reportedly received word in December that he would not be continuing to work with the Derry City first squad.
In April 2023, the former player for the Candystripes was named assistant to Ruaidhri Higgins.
When the Derry players started their preseason workouts, McLaughlin was not there.
It’s thought that the 44-year-old was informed of the choice following a meeting with Higgins just prior to Christmas.
After leading Institute to the Irish Premiership and then winning the County Antrim Shield and League Cup with Cliftonville, McLaughlin was well-liked as a manager in Northern Ireland.
In the race for the Irish Premiership title in 2021–2022, the Reds were only one point behind Linfield.
He left Solitude to work as Higgins’ assistant after taking over as manager of the north Belfast team in 2019. The Brandywell team finished second in the Premier Division, trailing only Shamrock Rovers.
When McLaughlin’s departure from Derry was announced on Monday, he had only been with the team for 1.5 years.
He had been Higgins’ right-hand guy after Alan Reynolds.
“We wish Paddy every success in his next role,” Derry stated in a statement posted on the team’s website. “We would hope to see him at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium supporting his hometown club when his schedule allows.”
Rumors that McLaughlin had agreed to take over as Cork City’s manager left him “frustrated and annoyed” in November, when he spoke to BBC Sport NI. Tom Clancy was then named to take over as the Turner’s Cross club’s new manager.
