Image source, Press Eye

Duncan Ferguson's appointment as Glentoran manager is one of the biggest arrivals in the history of the Irish League.

The Everton and Rangers legend has signed a multi-year deal at the Oval, and while he has been honest about his lack of local football knowledge, there is optimism at the club that he can guide them back into title contention.

But Ferguson, 54, is not the first well-known name to come to the Irish Premiership in recent years, either on the pitch or in the dugout.

There's been mixed success, from trophy-laden spells to forgettable cameos over since the Premiership was rebranded in 2008.

BBC Sport NI looks at how the previous big names have fared in the league over the past 18 years.

Read more here.

Long time league leaders Coleraine can leapfrog Linfield at the top of the table with a draw or victory over Crusaders at Seaview this afternoon.

Crues head coach Declan Caddell makes four changes to the team which lost 2-1 at Ballymena United seven days ago, Wednesday's Bet McLean Cup defeat at Warrenpoint Town notwithstanding.

Thomas Maguire, red carded in the midweek cup defeat, is suspended, while there is no place in the squad for Kurtis Forsythe, Ryan McKay or the experienced Robbie Weir.

Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins goes one better - making five changes to the side which started last Friday's dramatic 3-2 win over Larne.

Lyndon Kane, Dylan Boyle and Joe Thomson start their afternoons on the bench, while Will Patching and Aidan Wilson miss out through injury.

In their place come Levi Ives, Rob Slevin, Senan Devine, Rowan McDonald and, making his first start for Coleraine, defender Finn Tonks.

Crusaders: Callister, Blaney, Rough, Jewitt-White, Dunlop, Doherty, Rocks, Wardell, Reid, McCart, Anderson (c).

Subs: Brown, Williamson, Bond, Macleod, Lambe, Peoples, Harris.

Coleraine: Webb, Stewart, Shevlin, Cooper (c), Ives, Slevin, Devine, McDonald, Wylie, Doherty, Tonks.

Subs: Schofield, Kane, Boyle, McGregor, Henderson, Brooks, Thomson.

Referee: Shane Andrews.

Image source, BBC Sport

Championship Warrenpoint Town produced a stunning extra-time performance to beat Irish Premiership side Crusaders 5-2 in the BetMcLean Cup at Milltown on Wednesday.

Rory Powell opened the scoring for the hosts five minutes before the break with a powerful strike from 25 yards, and Crusaders forward Thomas Maguire was then sent off for an off the ball incident after the restart.

Despite being a man down, Declan Caddell's side rallied and Donal Rocks equalised on the hour-mark before Adam Reid put the Crues in front.

But there was late drama when Powell powered home the leveller with nine minutes remaining to send the game to extra time.

Powell completed his hat-trick three minutes after the restart with a header before Daire Trainor and Adetobi Jinadu secured the win.

Rodney McAree makes three changes to the side that overcame Bangor 2-1 in the BetMcLean Cup.

Danny Wallace, Tiernan Kelly and Junior Uzokwe all return to the starting XI, with John Scott, Jamie Glackin and Andy Mitchell named among the substitutes.

Cliftonville counterpart Jim Magilton makes just a single alteration following their 2-0 midweek win over Portadown.

Rory Hale earns a recall to the starting line-up as Joel Thompson drops to the bench.

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, McKeown, Kelly, S. Scott, Dillon, Glenny, Gordon, Doyle, Wallace, Uzokwe, McAllister.

Subs: Henderson, McGinty, J. Scott, Smith, Mitchell, Alves, Glackin.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Wightman, Samuels, Wilson, Hale, Healy, Leppard, Quinn, Bannon, McStravick, Sheridan.

Subs: Cremen-Crowe, Campbell, Conlan, McClelland, McMaster, Thompson, Murray.

Image source, BBC Sport

Cliftonville claimed a 2-0 win at Shamrock Park on Tuesday to advance into the second round of the BetMcLean Cup.

Alex Bannon opened the scoring four minutes before the break with Joe Sheridan adding a second in the 57th minute to send the 2025 winners through to the next round.

In the night's other all-Premiership clash, Dungannon Swifts were 2-1 winners over Bangor at Clandeboye Park.

Jamie Glackin and Kealan Dillon gave the Swifts a flying start and while Ben Cushnie pulled one back in the 20th minute, the hosts were unable to find an equaliser.

Carrick Rangers advanced with a 3-0 home win over Newry City despite losing Nedas Maciulaitis to a red card in the second half, while Ballymena United came back from a goal down for a 3-1 win over Championship side Newington.

John Butcher struck with seven minutes remaining to give 10-man Limavady United a 4-3 win at Annagh United.

The Premiership club were two goals to the good when Adam Mulan was shown a red card with the hosts taking advantage to draw level before Butcher found the winner.

Loughgall were 3-0 winners away to Institute, while there were further away victories as Harland & Wolff Welders won 3-1 at Armagh City, Moyola Park impressed in their 4-1 victory at Dundela and Glenavon romped to a 5-0 win against 10-man Starbane Athletic.

Two ties were decided on penalties as Queen's Univerity prevailed 3-1 on spot-kicks at Ballinamallard United after a 1-1 draw, while Rathfriland Rangers came through 6-5 in the shoot-out after a scoreless draw at home to Ards.

Image source, Inpho

Northern Ireland Football League CEO Gerard Lawlor has said member clubs "cannot continue doing the same things" after falling to 51st in Uefa's association coefficient rankings.

Iberia 1999's 1-1 draw at home to Mjallby in the Uefa Conference League on Thursday night moved Georgia's domestic league up the standings, dropping Northern Ireland out of the crucial top 50.

While NIFL have said that their "final position remains subject to UEFA's rankings and access arrangements", as it stands that would mean the Irish Premiership will have only three European spots in the 2028-29 season.

Currently the Irish Premiership's top two and Irish Cup winners automatically qualify for the next season's Uefa competitions, while the league's final spot is decided by an end-of-season play-off.

Lawlor called the expected loss of a European spot "a major concern and a potentially significant setback" for the game in Northern Ireland.

"The reality is that we are now facing the very real prospect of having just three clubs competing in Europe rather than four," he said.

"European football provides vital opportunities for our clubs, players and supporters, alongside important financial investment that benefits the wider game.

"While we have witnessed some excellent individual European performances, collectively we must acknowledge that our results have not been good enough."

Read more here.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Pacemaker

Former Everton and Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson has sensationally been named as the new manager of Irish Premiership club Glentoran.

The 54-year-old, who also played for Dundee United and Newcastle United and won seven caps for Scotland, will take up the reins at the east Belfast club on what the club say is a "multi-year contract".

Ferguson's coaching career to date includes being assistant manager at Everton under renowned managers Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez, and also two spells as caretaker boss.

In recent years, he has managed Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Ferguson's surprise appointment follows the departure of Declan Devine as manager of the Irish League outfit in September.

His former Dundee United team-mate Gary Bollan, with whom he worked at Inverness, has been named as assistant manager.

"I am delighted to become manager of Glentoran," said Ferguson.

"This is a big club with a tremendous history, and it is a great opportunity for me. I understand the responsibility that comes with the job.

"I want to win trophies here. Glentoran should be challenging for the title and every cup and shield we enter. I know that success here will be judged on what we win.

"The more I spoke with Ali and Paul [Millar, sporting director], the more I wanted the job. Their ambition matches my own, and I am looking forward to getting onto the training pitch, working with the players and seeing what we can achieve together."

Read more from Ferguson, Pour and former Glentoran captain Paul Leeman here.

Duncan Ferguson's first game as Glentoran manager against Ballymena United has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The Glens were set to host the Sky Blues at the Oval on Saturday at 15:00 BST, but, after a pitch inspection at 12:00, the decision was taken to call the game off.

The Everton legend, who was confirmed as Glentoran boss on Monday, will now take charge of his new team for the first time away to Coleraine on Friday, 30 October, live on BBC iPlayer.

A yellow Met Office weather warning is in place across Northern Ireland from 10:00 BST on Saturday until 12:00 GMT on Sunday.

There is also an amber weather warning in place for Saturday night with strong winds of up to 75mph expected.

Image source, BBC Sport

Portadown boss David Jeffrey: "Not to be. Our disallowed goal was incredible, it should have been given in my opinion.

"Linfield have done really well to respond after some ridiculous talk at the start of the season when they were beaten in a freak result by Ballymena United at home.

"We knew the size of the task but it came down to the fact that if we'd defender the corner better we'd have got a point. That's it, end of story."

Linfield manager David Healy: "We were a bit lethargic in the first half and a bit sluggish. We had a lot of the ball without doing anything with it.

"We give away a penalty 90 seconds into the second half which is frustrating and disappointing, but we showed a bit of character again coming from behind.

"This is not an easy place to come. Excluding Portadown's loss in the League Cup they've been in good form, so we knew how difficult it would be."

Image source, Pacemaker

Linfield moved top of the Irish Premiership after they came from behind to win 2-1 against Portadown at Shamrock Park.

Ben Kennedy's penalty just three minutes after the restart put the Ports in front after Chris Shields bundled Eamon Fyfe to the ground inside the area.

Rhys Brennan then levelled for the visitors just eight minutes later with a fine right-footed strike from the edge of the box before Matthew Fitzpatrick secured all three points for the Blues in the 80th minute after forcing the ball home at the back post.

David Healy's side are now 12 league games unbeaten and sit at the Irish Premiership summit, a point ahead of Coleraine, who face Crusaders this afternoon.

Read more here.

Linfield lead the way after victory on Friday but Coleraine have the chance to go back to the top of the table if they draw or win today.

Image source, BBC Sport

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Saturday's four Irish Premiership games.

It was meant to be a five-game offering, but Duncan Ferguson's first game as Glentoran boss against Ballymena United has been postponed.

The other games are still good to go with three at 15:00 BST and one at 18:00.

At Seaview, Coleraine will aim to return to the Irish Premiership summit as they take on Crusaders, who have suffered three successive defeats.

In-form Carrick Rangers welcome Limavady United to Taylors Avenue while struggling Dungannon Swifts and Cliftonville meet at Stangmore Park, with both keen to end their winless runs.

In Saturday's late kick-off, bottom side Bangor host champions Larne, who are reeling from back-to-back defeats against Coleraine and Linfield.

You can listen to BBC Sportsound for build-up and radio commentary from 14:00 while we will have live text commentary as well as in-play clips so you won't miss any of the action.

Enjoy!