Gary Haveron believes he has been given a second chance in his managerial career as he prepares for the County Antrim Shield Final at Seaview on Tuesday night.
If Larne were to beat Glentoran, it would be the fifth triumph in a row for the Invermen, who have dominated the competition in recent years.
It would be Haveron’s first trophy as a manager in his own right, having been part of Tiernan Lynch’s backroom staff in previous years.
After a successful playing career, Haveron moved into management at Carrick Rangers and showed enough ability for Glentoran to appoint him as the successor to Alan Kernaghan.
It was an offer he couldn’t turn down but the club was all at sea and his tenure ended in February 2018, so it could be said he is getting a shot at redemption with his hometown club.
“A bit, yeah,” reflects Haveron ahead of Tuesday night’s crunch showdown in north Belfast.
“The Glentoran job is so big, it’s a hard one to turn down when they come about.
“It’s an incredibly attractive proposition, but the reality of it was I wish I asked more questions going into it because I would have been more aware of what was going on.
“A lot of things are outside your control as a manager and resources is one of them, you have to work within the confines of what a club can or cannot afford.
“I wish I had been more aware of what was going on but it was still a huge opportunity for me and it was an honour to manage a club like Glentoran.
“Back then, Glentoran was a much different club to what it is now.
“Financially the club was in dire straits and it was hard work if I’m truthful.
“You have to manage the expectations of the fanbase, which is huge. It’s Glentoran Football Club and they are entitled to have huge expectations.
“What didn’t marry up was what they had in order to attract players, the financial packages they could put together for people, the two just didn’t marry up and that was the reality of it then.
“Now they are marrying up the players they’ve got now with the right character and the right agenda alongside the expectations.
“Did it set me back? It sent me in a different direction.
“I left Glentoran on the Tuesday and near enough the next day, Kenny Bruce came and gave me the opportunity to get involved in their youth set-up to coach the coaches.
“Sometimes these things happen for a reason, as one door closes another opens.”
Haveron has gone from strength to strength in his career and he feels his Glentoran counterpart Declan Devine is building something that will bring success to the club.
“Yes. Glentoran look to be in a stable place right now.
“Obviously they had big investment from Ali Pour and he continues to invest which is great for the Irish League because where was the League going without investment? Maybe around in circles.
“It shook things up and ruffled feathers but every club is crying out for investment and Ali has made a massive impact.
“They seem to be in a much better place.”