Ex-Carrick manager to face former club in league cup tie

Newry City boss Stuart King says he will not be letting emotion get in the way when he brings his side to his old club Carrick Rangers on Tuesday night in the first round of the BetMcLean League Cup.

King was the manager at the Taylors Avenue outfit for more than three years between 2021 and 2024 and he was responsible for bringing the club to a first-ever European play-off spot, something he remains proud of.

“I really enjoyed my time up there. I had almost four years in charge of what was a successful period in the club’s history,” he said.

“When I took over the team, they were very much in a state of constant transition between fighting to stay in the Premiership and dropping into the Championship.

“I would like to think I stopped that and established Carrick as a mainstay in the top division.

“Making it to that Euro play-off was a highlight not just for me but everyone associated with the club.”

King is now involved in another project with Newry, and once more it has been a successful venture.

Eighteen months into his reign and he has led the Co Down outfit to promotion to the Championship but has built a squad that has visions of going even further.

Newry sit sixth in the league at present, just five points off second. A position that would ensure at least a play-off place, and King is happy with what he has seen so far as they head into cup competition.

“I couldn’t be happier with how the season has went so far to be honest,” said the Banbridge native.

“We focussed on securing our Championship position at the start of the season and I think we have exceeded those expectations so far.

“What has pleased me most has been the fact we have been in almost all of the games right until the end.

“If anything, I am quite disappointed that we left some points out there but I suppose that is just because I have such high standards and expectations of this group of players.

“I am really excited about the Carrick game. We have five or six players unavailable for one reason or another and we have a huge game on Friday night against Newington, so there will be opportunities for some of the younger lads to get their first taste of action against a Premiership side, and a very good one at that.

“Carrick are big and strong, and physical and they will be a handful. They have built their squad around a lot of established Premiership players and they make it difficult for you to play against. It will be a test of our character for sure.”

Rangers’ head into the game on the back of a gutsy 2-2 draw with Linfield on Saturday. Stephen Baxter’s side sit fifth in the league and have been a match for many of the division’s full-time clubs in this campaign.

However, King is confident that his own troops can cause an unlikely upset.

“We thrive off people writing us off, or being classed as underdogs,” he explained.

“I can tell you that there will not be much of a team talk required on Tuesday to get the boys up for this one, we will be ready to go.

“We showed last year what we are capable of in these circumstances.

“As a Premier Intermediate side we defeated two Premiership sides in Glenavon and Portadown in the League Cup, before we just went down 3-2 to Linfield in the quarter-finals. Something that no-one would have expected when the draw was made.

“Carrick are a great side but we will be looking at how we can impose our own game on them and not focussing too much on where they might be better than us.

“I genuinely think we can get a result here.”

BetMcLean Cup first round

Tuesday (7.45pm)

Annagh United v Limavady United

Armagh City v H&W Welders

Ballinamallard United v Queen’s University

Bangor v Dungannon Swifts

Carrick Rangers v Newry City

Dundela v Moyola Park

Institute v Loughgall

Newington v Ballymena United

Portadown v Cliftonville

Rathfriland Rangers v Ards

Strabane Athletic v Glenavon

Warrenpoint v Crusaders