AMATEUR LEAGUE: Barn United part company with manager Tommy Kincaid

Kincaid took over in January, collecting just seven points out of a possible 36 and Barn currently languish at the foot of the Northern Amateur League’s Division 1A.

His last match in charge came in Saturday’s 6-0 defeat away to Dunmurry Rec.

Tommy gave no indication whatsoever when he talked to the Times after the weekend defeat, but explained: “I was then asked to come down on Tuesday night to have a chat about results. I just didn’t see the point. If they wanted someone else in, I told them to go ahead.

“Results were disappointing but with that 10-match rule it’s hard getting new players in January. But the players were responding: we were unlucky on Saturday, the better team in the first half but then we lost our keeper through injury.

Kincaid maintained he committed myself to the club until the end of the season, ‘no matter what other offers would come in’.

He added: “I hope they can get someone in and they stay up. I sincerely wish them all the best for the future.”

Barn chairman Billy Manderson thanked Kincaid for his efforts. “We came to a mutual agreement; he knew things weren’t working out and we wish him all the best for the future,” he said. “We really need someone in with a better knowledge of Carrick players.”

Taking over for the remainder of the campaign is the man Kincaid replaced, Jim Pherson, who admits: “I’m no miracle worker, but I’ll help the club out any way I can. Remember, the previous manager (Pherson) is as much to blame for our league position as Tommy – but while it’s still mathematically possible, we’ll not give up!”

Barn have five games left, four at home, and two of these are against promotion contenders Lisburn Rangers and East Belfast.

United would have been relegated at end of last season but for the three points they claimed back after Crumlin United had fielded an ineligible player.