Ex-Dungannon Swifts and Coleraine star has no doubts 'unbelievable coach' Dean Shiels will be Showgrounds hit

Ex-Northern Ireland international Shiels took his first step into senior management with the Swifts in March 2021 and spent two years at Stangmore Park before departing at the end of the 2022/23 campaign after the County Tyrone side had preserved their top-flight status by beating Annagh United in a play-off over two legs.

The 39-year-old was brought in as first team coach by Coleraine chief Oran Kearney in April and will now take over dugout duties as the club take another step towards a full-time playing model.

McCready, who previously played for the Showgrounds outfit, thoroughly enjoyed his two seasons under Shiels after joining from Ballymena United and has every confidence he’ll succeed in his new venture.

New Coleraine head coach Dean Shiels. PIC: David Cavan/Coleraine FC

"I have no doubts about it,” he said. “I said two years ago when I was at Dungannon that he's not suited to part-time football, but is more suited to full-time football.

"He lives and breathes football and is an unbelievable coach...how he sees things is incredible. I actually seen a goal that Coleraine scored against Glentoran and he'd only been in the door, but they scored from a corner and I knew that was him because he did the exact same thing at Dungannon. He made an instant impact.

"I've no doubts about Dean...I told people he'd get the Coleraine job and I knew he was good enough and ready for it.

"I loved working under Dean. We had a wee bit of a fall out at the end but it was my fault...I haven't seen him since. I have a lot of time for Dean and I think he has time for me as well even though we had that wee fall out, he signed me for Dungannon and made me vice-captain. I hope he does really well."

Shiels received criticism at times for his brand of football at the Swifts, who conceded 170 goals across two Premiership campaigns, but McCready believes that style can work with the quality in Coleraine’s squad.

"He has better players now,” he added. “There's only so much you can do without the players.

"You could see he was frustrated...I think he needs to be in the full-time environment because he's that good. At Dungannon he was working under some restrictions and his hands were tied in some ways. I knew what he was going through.

"It will take time for his style of football to get across and they have to stick by him. There could be some tough times at the start because some mightn't grasp it as quickly as others and if one person isn't in tune with what he wants then it just doesn't work right.

"You could see that at Dungannon when you watch back some of the goals we conceded...there were some stupid ones. They've experienced players there like Stevie O'Donnell at the back so they'll know when to play and when not to play. In the long-term, I think he's going to do really well if they stick with him."