FORMER Antrim goalkeeper Sean McGreevy says that the departure of Saffron manager Lenny Harbinson came as no surprise.

Harbinson announced his decision to step down in the days after his team had lost their championship opener with Cavan.

It brings to an end his three-year tenure in the post.

McGreevy said: “In terms of Lenny’s departure I don’t see it as a major surprise.

“Most people would have thought if the team didn’t get out of division four, and there wasn’t some sort of significant championship run – which was always going to be difficult with no back door – then it was no surprise that he moved on and let someone else take the reins.

“It is very difficult for any Antrim manager if they don’t get out of division four. That’s the big expectation. You are not going to build if you don’t get out of division four.

“I know from playing from Antrim, and being in division four, if there is no momentum there from getting promotion or feeling like you are a higher ranked team in division three then your confidence is low right away.

“When you are playing with Antrim you are usually playing against teams from division one, two or three so you are always underdogs. So it is very difficult.”

Yet despite all that, McGreevy said that it always felt as though Harbinson was doing the right things. He didn’t get promotion, but the team were improving and last year they picked up a win in the qualifiers over Louth.

“I do feel for Lenny and the back room team. I know from talking to guys on the team that his attention to detail was top notch. They weren’t ever doing any less work than any other county was putting in, so he has been unlucky with the way thing have gone in the league.

“There were near misses. The Wicklow defeat was disappointing. (Antrim lost 7-11 to 0-7 to Wicklow in the league which ended their promotion hopes).

“I am sure that Lenny is still trying to make sense of that result. It was a freak result and hopefully it won’t happen for a long, long time. Sometimes in a match if you lose a goal players’ confidence can drop qucikly

“I think Lenny feels that he has gone as far as he can with the lads. Sometimes you have to give a fresh face a chance. He has given everything that he could, as has the back room team. It’s disappointing from Lenny’s poit of view. He deserved more. It’sunfortunate. But it is nice that he had the option to make thatcall for himself.”

Now the questions arises over who will replace Harbninson.

McGreevy said: “It’s hard to know who can step in.

“Some would seee it as a poisoned chalice. At the same time some would say you can’t go any further down so there is not a lot of pressure. But I don’t agree with that. There is pressure straight away.

“It’s a difficult one. Hopefully whoever comes in can lift the players. Hopefully this bunch will stay together. There is a good attitude and hopefully there is something to build on.”