Larne have been tapping into the insight and experience of a former Premier League manager as they head into the business end of the season.
Iain Dowie, who won 59 caps for Northern Ireland in the 1990s, is a close friend of the Inver Park club's owner Kenny Bruce.
And the 57-year-old has been helping out on an informal basis in recent weeks, taking extra training sessions and providing an ear for Tiernan Lynch’s players.
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Lynch said Dowie, who bossed the likes of Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic and QPR in the 2000s, has been like a “breath of fresh air” at Inver.
“He has been great for us,” said Lynch. “He loves the game, he has absolutely no airs or graces about him and he has shown a real passion for Larne.
“There has been no set role as such but he has been really helping out, from putting the kit out to doing the dishes, taking sessions or working one-to-one with players.
“Iain has managed in the Premier League and Championship and he has a wealth of knowledge, but it’s his humility that really shone through for me.
“He has been there and done it in football, but he is really down to earth. He is a really infectious guy who is good fun around the place, so he has been fantastic.”
Larne midfielder Ben Doherty says Dowie’s recent contribution has been a “massive help” and someone the players have been able to “tap into”.
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“Iain has a wealth of experience and is someone the players really bounce off,” said Doherty. “He has done a bit of extra after training and is a ‘hands on’ type of person.
“It’s another person you can speak to and another bit of knowledge you can tap into. I think it has been a massive help for us and we can only see the benefits of that.”
Dowie, who was briefly Alan Shearer’s assistant at Newcastle United in 2009, was last in a managerial post in 2010 when he was at the helm of Hull City.
He played for a number of clubs during his time in England, including West Ham United, Southampton, Crystal Palace and QPR.
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