Jordan Owens: We will net Euro joy and give Stephen Baxter big send-off

Crues legend says club will struggle to find better manager than departing boss

Stephen Baxter and Jordan Owens

Crusaders legend Jordan Owens says he doesn’t believe the club will find a better manager than Stephen Baxter and he insists the team is fired up to see him leave on a high after securing European qualification.

The 58-year-old is bringing his remarkable 19-year managerial reign to an end once the season is over.

During an astonishing spell, during which he became the longest serving manager in world football, Baxter guided the club to three Irish Premiership titles, four Irish Cups, a League Cup, Setanta Cup and three County Antrim Shield wins.

Crusaders suffered relegation in 2005 but the former Linfield and Crusaders striker steered them back to the top tier and transformed them into a formidable Premiership force.

Striker Owens, the club’s record goalscorer, was given his debut by Baxter in 2007 and he’s been left stunned by the manager’s decision to quit at the end of the season. “I know fans get frustrated and we haven’t had a great season, but it’s not all down to Stephen, “ said Owens who has made over 680 appearances for the Crues.

“He picks the team but the players need to perform and we need to go out now and put on a massive push to get into Europe so he can bow out on a high.

“It’s the send off he deserves and he wants that. He told us to charge for a big finish and we are still together until the end of the season when we can hopefully qualify for Europe. We want to see him leave on a high.”

When asked if the Crues will ever have a better manager, Owens replied: “I think, in my opinion, Stephen will be hard to replace after all he has achieved. You just have to look at his achievements.

“It’s a