Close family ties with Ards may have helped persuade Warren Feeney to become the club’s manager earlier this year, but the potential of the North Down side was decisive in tempting him to stay on for this campaign.
Warren’s father Warren Snr played for the club alongside his cousins Lee – also formerly of Linfield and Rangers – and Cullen, but relegation from the top flight last season came as a blow to the club.
Feeney replaced Colin Nixon in the hotseat in February but despite overseeing an upturn in results, Ards were demoted to the second tier following a play-off defeat to Carrick.
“I was clear with Ards when I arrived last season that no matter what happened, I was open to staying on at the club after,” Feeney told Match on tuesday.
“This is a club who I have very close family ties to with my grandfather, my dad and my cousin – it is a club who I have a relationship with.
“There is a lot of potential here too. obviously we would want to have our own ground but there is a big catchment area and we have the potential to have success.
“Last season was frustrating because I gave them a bit of belief when we came in after they had gone on a long winless run, but it just wasn’t enough in the end.
“But I saw enough in those few months to know there is the capability for much more, although we knew that it wasn’t going to happen overnight and you need to have the patience.
“I’m happy with the direction we are going in and my aim is to steer this club back into the top flight.”
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