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Belfast Live
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Gareth Fullerton

Glentoran owner Ali Pour uses Chelsea analogy to allay exit concerns

Ali Pour has played down concerns that the Irish League's big investors could quickly lose interest and walk away from their clubs.

Pour has pumped over £1m into Glentoran since arriving in 2019, erasing the East Belfast club's debt and turning the Glens into one of just three fully professional clubs in the Irish Premiership.

Kenny Bruce has made a similar impact at Larne, with the successful businessman helping transform the Invermen's fortunes both on and off the pitch.

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Bruce recently reaffirmed his commitment to Larne, insisting he will stay "as long as the club wants me".

Pour has praised Bruce for the impact he has made at Inver, and insists he too has plenty of unfinished business at the Oval.

"Kenny (Bruce) has done a great job at Larne. And of course he is from Larne. But what he has done is phenomenal to help that area," Pour told Belfast Live.

"I will go as far as I can with this. I think Glentoran has so much potential, I dare say much more than Larne. Just by the size, the fan base, the location, the history.

"So I am here for the long-term."

Pour also used the example of Chelsea when playing down fears of a quick exit.

Oligarch Roman Abramovich sold the Premier League giants to Todd Boehly for £4.25 billion back in May, with the Hollywood billionaire’s consortium offer one of multiple bids on the table.

Pour added: "Kenny says he is committed to Larne long-term, but where is Kenny going to go? Who is going to buy Larne from him.

"Don't forget, we are not Chelsea. When (Roman) Abramovich left they had five buyers lined up pretty quickly.

"If I was to announce the sale of Glentoran, or Kenny announce the sale of Larne, you wouldn't get many people lining up to buy.

"So we can't leave just like that. We have a commitment and we are here for the long-term.

"I still think it is early days. We have so much work to do here, on and off the pitch. It is early days still."

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