Rathfriland Rangers have announced that due to other commitments Ally Wilson has stepped down from his role of first team manager with the club moving to appoint Ronnie Haughey to the role.

Ronnie, who is a well-respected former manager of Rathfriland Rangers and has plenty of experience in the local game, has been getting the know the players over the last few weeks.

Ally will retain a coaching and scouting role with the club and will be involved when he can.

Club chairman Adrian Megaw said: "Alastair has decided to step down and informed us of that after the Bob Radcliffe Cup Final triumph in late December.

"We went through an internal process to find a suitable replacement and Ronnie was clearly the best option as a former manager of the club, who knows the ins and outs of how we operate, what we do and what our ambitions are in the longer term.

"We were delighted when Ronnie accepted the job and are looking forward to working with him in the future as we push as far up the NIFL Premier Intermediate table as we can in the final 9 games of what has been a tremendous first season in the third tier of NI football.

"There are always shocks and changes in football as Liverpool fans will know. Since Ally joined us in 2020 we have had some amazing successes with two NAFL Premier Division titles, an Intermediate Cup, a Bob Radcliffe Cup as well as winning both games in the PIL play-offs to gain promotion to NIFL.

"We currently sit fourh in the table with an outside chance of grabbing a promotion play-off. All good things come to end so it’s time to forward and build for the future and we are pleased that Ally will still be involved with the club."