A change of manager for Bluefin Sport Championship club Ballyclare Comrades has seen Paul Harbinson replace Stephen Hughes at the weekend.

The move came after Hughes’ resignation following the 5-4 defeat to Loughgall on Friday evening, a game in which the Comrades had led 4-0 at the break.

Hughes had returned to the club in May 2018 for a second stint as manager of the Dixon Park club following the departure of Clifford Adams. He led the East Antrim side to a ninth place finish in the second tier last season.

In a short statement on the club’s Twitter account, “Following Stephen Hughes' resignation the club has appointed Paul Harbinson to step up to the manager's role. We wish Paul every success in his new role and look forward to working with him.”

A former player of with the Comrades as well as spells at HW Welders and Bangor, Harbinson joined the coaching staff in the close season after a successful spell as coach of Ballymena United Reserves working under David Jeffrey.

The new boss’ first game in charge is a home league game against PSNI, as Ballyclare start the weekend in seventh place in the Bluefin Sport Championship but eager to shore up a leaky defence that has shipped 15 goals in their last three games, which all ended in defeat.