Larne goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson is delighted at Tiernan Lynch’s decision to reject the chance to become St Johnstone manager but believes his boss will seek a new challenge in the not too distant future.

Lynch’s remaining at the Inver Park club means he will travel with the squad to Norway for their historic Uefa Conference League opening game against Molde on Thursday.

“It would probably have been hard to imagine Larne without Tiernan but I think it’s probably inevitable, with everything that he’s done with the club,” said Ferguson, who like all the Larne squad, was signed by Lynch.

“He deserves to get a shot, whether that might be over the water [in Scotland], in England, you just never know.”

Asked to elaborate on Lynch’s qualities, Ferguson spoke of the manager’s diligent planning and essentially decency as a human being.

“He’s very detailed in his work. He’s very detailed on the pitch.

“The way he is as a person. He’s a good person, a caring person. It certain helps playing under someone like that.”

Ryan was sold ‘European dream’

As the club comes into the latest huge game in their history, the keeper’s fellow Scotsman Andy Ryan recalled not being entirely convinced at the “European dream” that club owner Kenny Bruce and Lynch attempted to sell to him in their efforts to entice him to Inver Park last year.

“I was kind of humming and hawing at the start but that dream has come through,” said the 30-year-old.

And while Larne’s becoming the first Irish League club to make the group or league stages of a European club competition has already banked them £2.6m, with the added lure of £336,000 for wins and £112,000 for draws in their six games over the next 11 weeks, Ryan says the players’ main focus should be “enjoying ourselves”.

“We’re there on merit. We’ve earned it so it’s important we get over there and into the whole campaign and try and compete but most of all, try and enjoy it,” said Ryan, whose second-leg hat-trick downed Lincoln Red Imps in the final qualifying round last month.

Ryan says the Larne players are expecting a tough opener against a Molde side that had Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland in their ranks between 2017 and 2019.

“We know they are a top side and a well-established side in European competition.

“It’s going to be difficult but it’s important we go there with a game plan and try and get something out of the game. We want to compete and show we belong at this level and see where it takes us.”