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Steven Crawford

Cliftonville may miss out on 'top target' as they move to new hybrid model

Declan O'Hara will take interim charge of Cliftonville as the club now undertakes the process of appointing a permanent, full-time manager.

O'Hara, who was Paddy McLaughlin's assistant at Solitude, has already held a training session with the club as they prepare for the final two league games of the season.

In a statement the Reds confirmed they would be moving towards a "hybrid system" for both full-time and part0time players at the club.

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"Cliftonville FC had already commenced the move towards a new model with our ambition to put a hybrid system in place which will balance the needs of full-time footballers alongside those players who pursue other careers along with football," a statement said.

"It is our intention that the new Manager will be central to that process along with taking a strategic overview of all football at the Club."

Meanwhile, Cliftonville's hopes of landing one of their 'top targets' to replace McLaughlin could be dashed as his current club are preparing to offer him a new deal to stay.

Diarmuid O'Carroll, who won back-to-back league titles with the Reds is believed to top the list to take over the reins at Solitude following McLaughlin's departure.

But prising the 36-year-old away from his current club St Mirren may prove difficult as the Buddies are said to be preparing to offer O'Carroll and boss Stephen Robinson new deals with the club.

The duo have done an incredible job in Paisley after taking over from Jim Goodwin last February.

They are well in the mix for a top six spot and currently lie just six points off Aberdeen in third and a point off a potential European place.

O'Carroll has built up a strong partnership with Robinson following their spells together at Motherwell and Morecambe.

Diarmuid O'Carroll won four Irish League titles - including two with Cliftonville (Darren Kidd /Presseye.com)

The former striker has also recently taken up a coaching role as part of Michael O'Neill's backroom team in the senior Northern Ireland set-up.

O'Carroll's stock is certainly high and he looks set to move into management at some stage, whether that be at Cliftonville or not, even though Robinson joked he would be mad to make the step up to be a manager.

"I think Diarmuid is crazy if he wants to be a manager though and I have told him that," he told Renfrewshire Live.

“He should stick to what he is doing and enjoy life without the madness of being a manager.

“Anyone who moves into management needs their head examined, and I include myself in that!

“But in terms of his talent, he is an ambitious guy and I think he is on a great career path and he could go on to big things."

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