Mark Stafford with take temporary charge of Ballinamallard for Saturday’s game against Ballyclare Comrades at Ferney Park, following the departure of Harry McConkey.

The club captain was asked to make the step up until they sourced a permanent manager to replace McConkey, and Stafford agreed to fill in after securing the help of former player James McKenna.

“The club asked me if I would take it on an interim basis until they found someone to take the job full time,” revealed Stafford.

“I said that I would need to see who I could get in to help me, because I wouldn’t be willing to take it on myself.

“I asked James and he was willing to help me out. If I hadn’t got James I wouldn’t have taken the job. I trust James. He is someone I respect in the game and he knows the club.

“He will be another set of eyes on Saturday, as well as Thursday when we have to pick a team. I’m very grateful to him for coming in to help me.”

Stafford admitted that he was surprised by McConkey’s announcement to the players in the dressing room after the Annagh game.

“Harry said that the result we got wasn’t enough and he wasn’t going to be taking the team any further.

“The whole squad and the team was in a bit of shock and disbelief because the result, a draw away to Annagh, was a reasonable result, but it obviously wasn’t enough.”

The captain has agreed to take the management role on a short term basis, and while he may be interested in a managerial role in the future, he confirmed he has no intention of putting his name forward for the permanent position.

“I made it clear early doors that it is maybe something for me in the future, but I want to educate myself first,” he said.

“I do quite a bit of coaching in the youth side of things. I am doing the National Performance Programme with Lynn McFrederick, and I do bits and pieces of coaching at the club as well to get out there and learn and get better.

“I want to be a coach before I would ever step into management.

“The club are aware of that, and I was open and honest with them from the start.”

Stafford is hoping he can get back to focussing on playing as soon as possible, and admits it will be an unusual situation when he leads the team talk ahead of Saturday’s match.

“I am still playing and I’m captain of the team, so it is going to be a difficult situation on Saturday, with having to pick a team and maybe leaving players out, but I’m sure they will understand,” he said.

“I just have to go in and do a job and be as professional as I can be about it, and I’m sure they will be professional as well.

“They are a good bunch of lads and hopefully we will get the club some sort of a result on Saturday.”

The stand-in manager has been assured that the club will work to get someone into the post as quickly as possible, and he has faith they will make the correct appointment.

“The club are going to be very busy, and it is going to be difficult to find the right man, but I am confident that they can do that,” he said.

“It’s a great opportunity for somebody. We have good players and we have a good structure and fantastic facilities, and it is going to be a very attractive job in my opinion for people who want to get into coaching and management at Championship level.

“All the infrastructure is there so it’s just about the right person applying for it.”

McConkey was the manager that brought Stafford back to the club following his spells at Linfield and Glenavon, but the pair crossed paths earlier in McConkey’s second spell as Ballinamallard boss.

The manager’s first home match in charge was against Linfield in March 2018, and Stafford scored against his old club as the sides drew two apiece.

Now the central defender faces his own Ferney Park managerial debut knowing he much to thank McConkey for.

“I spoke to Harry on Sunday and thanked him,” he revealed.

“He was the one who brought me back to Ballinamallard, and I was very grateful to get back to play for the club.

“Then he made me his captain this year, which meant a lot to me. It was a nice way to finish my career, and he didn’t have to do that.

“His preparation for games for the players was immaculate, and when you cross the white line for a Harry McConkey team you knew all the information was given to you about the opposition, you were well prepared as a player and a team, and you had no excuses come the end of the game.

“If you were beaten it certainly wouldn’t have been his fault because of the preparation. I’m very thankful for the opportunities he gave me.”