Alan McDonald Appointed Glentoran 1st Team Coach - A year After Joining QPR and Five Months After QPR Axed Him

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All QPR Fans will wish QPR's most capped International the very best of luck.

GLENTORAN OFFICIAL SITE - February 12, 2007
Alan McDonald appointed as new 1st Team Coach
Glentoran FC are pleased to announce the appointment of former QPR, Swindon Town and Northern Ireland International player,
Alan McDonald as Glentoran's new 1st Team Coach. Alan also has experience of coaching at Swindon Town, and at Northern Ireland U21 Level. Glentoran

BBC - February 12, 2007 - McDonald named Glens assistant
Former Northern Ireland captain Alan McDonald has been appointed as assistant manager to Paul Millar at Carnegie Premier League club Glentoran.
McDonald, who won 52 international caps, has been assistant coach of the Northern Ireland U21 side since 2002.
The former Queens Park Rangers defender was assistant to Gary Waddock at Loftus Road in 2006.
McDonald pulled out of the running for the Glens manager's job last year to take up his role with QPR. BBC

Even though McDonald was ousted by QPR, he expressed his continued warm feelings about QPR in an interview a few months ago.
Ealing Gazette - October 16, 2006
No hard feelings, says Mcdonald

ALAN McDonald insists he has no hard feelings towards QPR following his exit in the wake of John Gregory's appointment as manager.
McDonald, who spent 17 years as a player at Loftus Road, left his job as assistant boss soon after Gregory was installed.
The former Northern Ireland international could be forgiven for having his feelings towards the club permanently soured.
He was unhappy at the manner of his release as a player in 1997 after giving Rangers such loyal service.
McDonald was then in the process of moving to Belfast - and was in contention for the Glentoran manager's job - before a sudden return to west London as Gary Waddock's right-hand man, only to find himself out of work just eight games into the new season.
Alan M But McDonald reflected: "That's part of being in football. I'll just spend some time with my family and see what happens in the future.
"I'm moving back to Belfast, which was the plan before I went back to QPR. It's a shame in many ways to have left the club again but these things happen."
McDonald has no complaints about the decision to wield the axe, although he is reluctant to comment on the abrupt manner of his departure.
Gregory was in place within hours of the League Cup defeat at Port Vale and had been lined up to take over before the game.
"Results weren't good and I take my share of the responsibility for that," McDonald admitted.
"It hasn't changed my affection for QPR. That will never happen.
It was always the first result I looked for before I came back and will always be the first the result I look for."
McDonald believes his former team-mate Gregory will prove to be a success in the Rs hotseat. The new boss has made the perfect start with wins over Hull and promotion-chasing Southampton, and McDonald is convinced the turnaround will be maintained. QPR are in action again tomorrow at home to Norwich.
"John will do well," he predicted. "There's a good enough squad there to finish quite high up that division.
"You've got lads like Ray Jones, Shabazz Baidoo and Pat Kanyuka coming through and that's great to see, because bringing on the youngsters is something the club was always good at and hopefully will be in the future."

Ealing Gazette


McDONALD's QPR DEPARTURE MCDONALD OUT
McDonald Departs QPR: "Given Notice to Terminate his Employment"
Alan McDonald has been given notice to terminate his employment at Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
After making 483 appearances for the Hoops in a successful 16-year spell as a player, McDonald joined the R's as Caretaker Assistant Manager in February 2006, prior to taking up the position of Assistant Manager towards the end of June.
Chairman Gianni Paladini told qpr.co.uk: "I'd like to thank Alan McDonald for all the hard work he's done here since February.
"He's been a great servant for this Club, both as a player and in his role as Assistant Manager, and I wish him all the best for the future.'' QPR

QPR OFFICIAL, February 9 2006 - RETURN OF THE MAC
Former Rangers defender, Alan McDonald has joined QPR to assist Gary Waddock with his coaching duties.'Macca' made over 400 appearances for the Superhoops in a Loftus Road career that spanned from 1981 to 1997.A product of the youth set up, McDonald featured in the 1986 League Cup final and went on to experience both highs and lows with Rangers.The Northern Ireland international soared the dizzy heights when Rangers finished as the top London club in 1993, but also endured relegation from the top flight in 1996.He will arrive at Harlington tomorrow and will be 'on duty' for Saturday's home game against Millwall.Waddock said: "He's QPR through and through and has got a real passion for the club."But he's not just a QPR legend, he's a fully qualified coach who has worked at international level and he's just come back from Israel with the Northern Ireland U21 squad."It wasn't a difficult job to convince him, he's got blue and white blood running though his veins." QPR

Belfast Telegraph QPR and the Glens are Big Mac fans
By Stuart McKinley: FOOTBALL10 February 2006
The offer of a temporary coaching position at his former club Queens Park Rangers won't affect Alan McDonald's availability to become the next Glentoran manager.McDonald is the new favourite for the vacant Oval position after the club's first choice, Roy Walker, turned down the job.The Glens board met yesterday and it is understood that the former Northern Ireland captain is now the favoured candidate. Their next move will be to contact McDonald about the possibility of succeeding Roy Coyle, who resigned a week ago.McDonald has already given strong indications of his interest in the job, particularly as he is due to move back to Northern Ireland next month, but the club must make the first move."I would be interested in speaking to Glentoran, but I won't be applying for the job and I haven't had any contact from anyone at the club as yet," said McDonald.One club that has been in touch with McDonald is QPR. The Loftus Road side put manager Ian Holloway on 'gardening leave' earlier this week and handed the reins to reserve team coach Gary Waddock on a temporary basis.They have now invited their ex-skipper to join Waddock in taking charge of team affairs, but McDonald insists that reports on their official website saying that he has already returned to the club are premature."I received a call from Queens Park Rangers when I was with the under-21 squad in Israel asking if I would like to go back and do some coaching," said McDonald."Things happened at the club this week that were completely out of the blue, Gary Waddock is a good friend of mine and he asked if I would be interested in helping him."We are still talking about one or two things, nothing has been decided and nothing has been agreed."If it does happen it will only be a temporary thing for me anyway as my plans to come back to Northern Ireland haven't changed." Belfast Telegraph

Also: June 2002 Ron Norris/QPR Net Interview with Alan McDonald - QPR Net Q&A with Alan McDonald