Ballymena United have announced the departure of manager Jim Ervin following a string of poor results, including a 3-1 defeat to Glenavon on Saturday. The club confirmed the decision in a statement released this morning.
Ervin, who took charge at the Showgrounds in 2023, initially steered the Sky Blues to Premiership safety via a playoff in his first season. Despite signing a new contract until 2028 after finishing in the bottom half last term, recent form has led to his exit. A 4-1 home loss to Cliftonville in the County Antrim Shield midweek compounded the pressure.
The board thanked Ervin for his two and a half years of service. His tenure included handling one of the most challenging periods in the club’s recent history. However, with the team currently eighth in the table, the decision was made to seek a new direction.
Ciaran Caldwell, the current U20 manager, will take interim charge for Tuesday’s BetMcLean Cup quarter-final against Larne, assisted by Patrick McEleney and Sean O’Neill. The club will now begin the recruitment process for a permanent replacement. Next fixture: vs Dungannon Swifts (away, 2026-12-19) (7th in the table).
