Irish Premiership: Conor McMenamin move 'best for everyone'

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says Conor McMenamin's surprise move to Irish Premiership rivals Glentoran is "best for everyone".

McMenamin joined Coleraine from St Mirren in June but made a shock transfer to the Oval 10 weeks later.

The transfer saw midfielder Joe Thomson head in the opposite direction and arrive at the Showgrounds.

Speaking to BBC Sport after his move to the Oval, Northern Ireland winger McMenamin said "it wasn't meant to be" at Coleraine and Higgins agreed with that assessment.

"Sometimes in football and just life in general, things don't go as expected or according to plan," said Higgins, after being named as August's manager of the month by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association.

"It's certainly not a personal issue with Conor at all."

McMenamin, 31, had also spoken about not being able to commit to relocating from Downpatrick to the north coast of Northern Ireland, and said family and personal matters were key to the decision.

Higgins said the daily commute from Downpatrick to Coleraine, which is about 75 miles and a 90-minute drive each way, was something that was "not sustainable".

"Conor and I had regular conversations over the last couple of weeks actually," Higgins added.

"We've come to this conclusion and I think it's best for everyone."

With the injuries to Mark Coyle and Rowan McDonald, Coleraine were light in the centre of midfield and Thomson can bolster their options by joining the likes of Will Patching and Dylan Boyle.

"Joe is so different to the players that we have. He plays with an edge and he has a goal in him," said Higgins, who previously managed Thomson when at Derry City.

"He's very much box-to-box and all-action, and I've worked with him before so I know what I'm getting."

While the McMenamin and Thomson transfers dominated deadline day, Coleraine also made a significant addition with Adam Brooks from Crusaders.

After mainly featuring out wide for Crusaders last season, former Celtic striker Brooks had made a strong start to the new campaign at Seaview and netted a hat-trick against Portadown in a 3-2 win.

Higgins said he had been tracking the 22-year-old Scottish attacker for a while, and believes he is a "young player with huge talent".

"For not the biggest lad in the world he scores good headed goals, with his right foot, left foot, he can score from distance and inside the six yard box.

"He's got good awareness and so much to his game. I think if he was six foot two he would have never played in this league because he would be somewhere else.

"We see it as an investment and someone we can develop, and I've no doubt that Adam can kick on and once he establishes himself here, it wouldn't surprise me if he went on to another level in the coming years."

Higgins said he had watched Brooks for Crusaders at Portadown last season and "straight away I really liked what I was seeing".

"I know he's a brilliant boy and he played out of position a lot last year, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's a he's a top, top centre forward.

"He's very like a Robbie Keane sort of mould and that type of centre forward, and there's a lot I like about him."

Coleraine finished just three points behind eventual Irish Premiership champions Larne last season after a strong end to the campaign.

The investment in the club and move to full-time football has increased expectations at the Showgrounds, and the Bannsiders are regarded as one of the favourites to win the Gibson Cup.

Coleraine's sole title came way back in 1974, and if they can win it second it would come when the club will celebrate its centenary year.

"To me it's trying to win the second league title in the club's history, and it would be extra-special if you could do it in the centenary year," Higgins added.

"On a daily basis, I put myself under massive pressure and that's why we are here.

"We want to be part of a successful, ambitious club."

Higgins says he is "very lucky" and is "loving" being at Coleraine, and he has guided the club to an unbeaten start to the season with three wins and a draw, which came against Larne, in their opening four games.

They will look to continue that strong start at Crusaders on Saturday at 18:00 BST.

"We're obviously really happy with the start, and we're particularly happy with the three clean sheets out of four, and we're scoring goals again which is pleasing," Higgins added.

"We're four games in, so we'll not get too excited, but the players have been fantastic and it's a joy to work with them and the staff on a daily basis."

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