Coleraine's New Era: McMenamin's Departure and Thomson's Arrival

Ruaidhri Higgins insists Conor McMenamin’s brief and bruising Coleraine chapter has ended in the right way – for everyone.

The Coleraine boss, fresh from being named August’s manager of the month by the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association, has backed the winger’s decision to swap the north coast for Glentoran just 10 weeks after arriving from St Mirren.

McMenamin described his time at the Showgrounds as something that “wasn't meant to be”. Higgins doesn’t argue.

“Sometimes in football and just life in general, things don't go as expected or according to plan,” he said. “It's certainly not a personal issue with Conor at all.”

The 31-year-old had been open about the strain of life on the road. Based in Downpatrick, he faced a daily round trip of around 150 miles, close to three hours in the car every day. For Higgins, that was never going to work in the long term.

He called the commute “not sustainable” and revealed that the pair had been in constant dialogue as the situation came to a head.

“Conor and I had regular conversations over the last couple of weeks actually,” Higgins explained. “We've come to this conclusion and I think it's best for everyone.”

The move to the Oval didn’t happen in isolation. It unlocked a significant piece of business for Coleraine.

As McMenamin headed to Glentoran, midfielder Joe Thomson travelled in the opposite direction and walked through the doors at the Showgrounds, immediately plugging a gap in the heart of Higgins’ side.

Coleraine have been stretched in central areas. Injuries to Mark Coyle and Rowan McDonald left the Bannsiders light in midfield, and Thomson arrives to join the likes of Will Patching and Dylan Boyle in the engine room.

Higgins knows exactly what he is getting. He managed Thomson at Derry City and clearly likes what the Scot brings.

“Joe is so different to the players that we have. He plays with an edge and he has a goal in him,” Higgins said. “He's very much box-to-box and all-action, and I've worked with him before so I know what I'm getting.”

The reshaping of Coleraine’s squad didn’t stop with that headline swap.

While the McMenamin-Thomson deal dominated deadline day chatter, Higgins quietly moved for one of the league’s most intriguing young forwards. Adam Brooks arrived from Crusaders, and the Coleraine boss sounds convinced he has landed a gem.

Brooks, a former Celtic striker, spent much of last season shunted out wide at Seaview. Even so, he burst into the new campaign in style, hitting a hat-trick against Portadown in a 3-2 win and reminding everyone he is, at heart, a centre forward.

Higgins had been tracking the 22-year-old Scottish attacker for some time and sees huge upside.

He called Brooks “a young player with huge talent” and then broke down why.

For a player not blessed with great height, Brooks scores all kinds of goals – headers, right foot, left foot, from distance, from inside the six-yard box. Higgins loves his awareness, his movement, his variety.

“If he was six foot two he would have never played in this league because he would be somewhere else,” the Coleraine manager said, only half-joking.

To him, Brooks is an investment, a project with a potentially big payoff.

“We see it as an investment and someone we can develop, and I've no doubt that Adam can kick on and once he establishes himself here, it wouldn't surprise me if he went on to another level in the coming years.”

Higgins remembers watching Brooks for Crusaders at Portadown last season and being instantly sold.

“Straight away I really liked what I was seeing,” he said. “I know he's a brilliant boy and he played out of position a lot last year, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's a top, top centre forward.

“He's very like a Robbie Keane sort of mould and that type of centre forward, and there's a lot I like about him.”

All of this sits against a backdrop of rising expectation at Coleraine.

Last season they finished just three points behind eventual champions Larne after a powerful finish to the campaign. The club’s investment and shift to full-time football has altered the landscape. The Bannsiders are no longer plucky outsiders; they are widely viewed as one of the favourites for the Gibson Cup.

The history is heavy. Coleraine’s only league title came in 1974. If they can finally land a second, it would arrive as the club celebrates its centenary year. The symmetry is obvious. Higgins doesn’t duck it.

“To me it's trying to win the second league title in the club's history, and it would be extra-special if you could do it in the centenary year,” he said.

He admits he drives himself hard.

“On a daily basis, I put myself under massive pressure and that's why we are here. We want to be part of a successful, ambitious club.”

Right now, the signs are good. Coleraine are unbeaten after four games, with three wins and a draw – the stalemate coming against champions Larne. They have three clean sheets from those four matches and look sharp in front of goal again.

Higgins is enjoying it.

He says he is “very lucky” and “loving” life at Coleraine, but he is not getting carried away.

“We're obviously really happy with the start, and we're particularly happy with the three clean sheets out of four, and we're scoring goals again which is pleasing,” he said. “We're four games in, so we'll not get too excited, but the players have been fantastic and it's a joy to work with them and the staff on a daily basis.”

Next up is Crusaders at Seaview on Saturday evening, a 18:00 BST kick-off and another early test of their title credentials.

The squad has changed, the expectations have grown, and the pressure is building. Coleraine have waited half a century for a second title. Under Higgins, they look ready to find out if this is finally the year.