By Callum McFadden
Stephen Baxter has announced that he is stepping down as Crusaders manager in the summer of 2024 after 19 years in charge of the club.
Speculation will be rife in the coming months as to who may replace the man who is the longest-serving manager in world football at the moment.
I had a look at five managers that Crusaders may consider as the successor to Baxter.
Oran Kearney (Coleraine)
Kearney has brought success to Coleraine in both of his spells in charge of the Bannsiders by winning the Irish Cup and BetMcLean Cup.
Has had his fair share of criticism in the 2023/24 season from Bannsiders fans due to inconsistent results but there is no doubt that he is a manager of pedigree.
He may fancy a new challenge and it could suit all parties.
Darren Mullen (unattached, last at Newry City)
A manager who, like Stephen Baxter, knows what it is like to be in charge of a club for a number of years having managed Newry City for a decade before leaving in the summer of 2023.
He achieved multiple promotions at Newry and kept them in the Sports Direct Premiership, which looks even more impressive given their performances since he departed the club as they sit bottom of the table.
He would be a safe pair of hands.
Dean Smith (Loughgall)
Smith has done a remarkable job with Loughgall, taking them into the top-flight and pushing towards the top six this season.
He has nurtured the talent of Benji Magee extremely well and may fancy taking him to Crusaders if he got the job.
Gary Hamilton (unattached, last at Glenavon)
Hamilton is out of work after spending nearly 12 years with Glenavon, winning two Irish Cups and recording four top-three finishes in the Premiership with the Lurgan club while also competing in Europe during his tenure – famously taking down an Erling Haaland-led Molde at Mourneview Park on one famous night in 2018.
He would be an experienced pair of hands who could take the club forward while developing younger players.
Rodney McAree (Dungannon Swifts)
McAree moved back to Dungannon for family reasons in the summer, so this move seems unlikely, but he is a manager who is proven within the Irish league.
He would be more than capable of managing a club like Crusaders if circumstances aligned for him to become available.
Featured image from INPHO/Press Eye/Stephen Hamilton.
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