Ballymena United are on the hunt for a new manager after they parted ways with Jim Ervin on Sunday. The former Linfield, Ballymena and Carrick Rangers defender was relieved of his duties after two and a half years in charge following their recent run of poor form. The Sky Blues' inconsistent form and lack of clinical frontmen have contributed to their struggles. In the 2023-24 season, Ervin's side won back-to-back league games just twice in a tough first campaign for the former defender as they finished 11th in the table and beat Institute in a promotion/relegation play-off to retain their top-flight status. In the 2024-25 campaign, they lost their opening four league games but then went on a fine run as they won their next eight to rocket up the table. They then fell to four successive losses to halt their momentum and a stuttering run before the split saw them miss out on the top six and eventually finish ninth. Ballymena started the current campaign well, winning their first three before then losing their next three and their trademark inconsistency, as well as the form of those around them, have contributed to them dropping to eighth. Under Ervin the Sky Blues lost considerably more league games (54) than they won (28). Frustration has grown among a section of the Sky Blues' support since a high point of their 1-0 win over Linfield in September. They failed to build on that victory over the champions as since that fixture, they have just two league wins on the board. After steering Ballymena through a tough period in his first season in charge on a limited budget, Ervin has since been substantially backed in subsequent transfer windows to rebuild a side that can challenge to break into the top six. The likes of Josh Carson, Stephen O'Donnell, Aaron Jarvis, Ben Kennedy, Daniel Lafferty, Patrick McEleney, Daire O'Connor, David Toure, Matthew Clarke and Dylan McGeough are some of the headline signings in the past two seasons. All came with considerable experience and while Carson, Kennedy and McEleney have showed glimpses of their quality, they have too often been sidelined with injury. O'Connor has barely featured since joining in the summer and for all their significant spending, they have failed to acquire a consistently clinical frontman. Forward Success Edogun has proved a handful for opposing defences but has been lacking a prolific strike partner up front. Ervin lamented their lack of cutting edge in their first defeat of the season against Larne and like last season, an over-reliance on Kennedy may come back to bite them. Despite having a large squad at his disposal, Ervin's words about those on the fringes were critical in his final interview to BBC Sport NI after defeat on Saturday: 'We had 10 players unavailable, but you have a big squad, and we were looking players to stand up and be counted and they've haven't.'