The former Caley Thistle manager was the shock choice to take charge of The Oval side, who currently sit in third place in the Irish Premiership.

Ex-Hoops winger McCourt was appointed caretaker manager of Glentoran last month after they sacked Declan Devine.

McCourt - who was hugely popular at Celtic during his five-year spell at the club from 2008 - guided Glentoran to a five-game unbeaten spell during his spell as interim manager, which ended with a win against Limavady United.

And he insists he's proud of what he achieved after the high-profile appointment of Everton legend Ferguson.

McCourt said: "I've loved it. I love being part of this football club.

"I've been here for two-and-a-half seasons now, we get treated brilliantly well by the people within the club and the people outside of the club, it's a real good club.

"I'm just glad that we and the players could put some more points on the board after a difficult start.

"I'm proud of what the players have produced.

"I stand on the sideline and we've tried to set them up every week in terms of the opposition that we were playing.

"But I genuinely believe, even though we've picked up 13 points out of the last 15, that there's a lot more to come from this squad of players. I think we'll get better as the season goes on."

Ferguson will try and end an 18-year title-winning drought at the historic club.