Loughgall Football Club have reached an “amicable” agreement with former manager Dean Smith.
The Villagers released a statement to say the agreement “inclusive of a confidential financial settlement”, represents a “full and final resolution of all matters”.
Earlier this month the Club released a statement confirming the departure of the long-serving Smith only for their statement to be contradicted by the manager’s representatives, JWB Consultancy, 90 minutes later.
However, the Club have tonight (Wednesday) said the statement issued on March 6 on social media was the result of “internal miscommunication” and has since been removed.
The Club added: “Loughgall FC and Dean Smith have had a successful and lengthy period working together, and now part on mutually agreeable and good terms, with both parties keen to draw a line under recent events.
“To that end, there will be no further comment from either party in respect of the matter which both Loughgall FC and Dean Smith consider satisfactorily closed.”
Smith had been serving a 15-game ban for disciplinary breaches following Loughgall’s 2-1 defeat to Glentoran in January.
He was given a 10-match ban for breaching article 23.1 which involves “offending the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words or actions concerning race, colour, language, religion, sectarianism”.
A further five-game suspension was imposed under article 14.1 which deals with players or officials “reported for unsporting conduct towards a match official”.
While this season has been largely one of disappointment Smith did enjoy success in previous campaigns, leading the team to promotion to the top flight in the 2022-23 campaign where they finished ninth.
