New era dawns as Baxter exits Seaview stage

The world’s longest-serving manager.

When Stephen Baxter was handed the unenviable task of leading a Crusaders revival midway through the 2004-05 season, not even in his wildest dreams could he have imagined repeating that sentence, or the journey that led him to it.

After reaching the pinnacle of Irish League football in the mid-90s, almost a decade of decline resulted in the north Belfast club scrapping for their top-flight status, and their very existence, by the time Baxter contemplated hanging up his boots.

Nineteen years, 953 games and 12 trophies later, he leaves Seaview as their most successful manager of all time.

Despite a disappointing campaign, by his own high standards, in league and cup, he exited stage left in typical swashbuckling fashion after securing European football once more thanks to an a 3-2 injury-time victory over Coleraine.

Who netted the dramatic winner? Club record goalscorer Jordan Owens. It's almost as if the script was already written.

That Baxter would go on to etch his name into the club’s history books in such an emphatic way seemed unthinkable back in February 2005.

The Crues had just sacked a manager for the first time ever as Alan Dornan’s reign ended with them propping up the Premier Division table. They were riddled with debt and the youthful playing squad lacked experience.

They needed someone who could unite a fanbase drained by season after season of battling relegation. Someone who understood the club. Someone who could buy some time. Someone who, in his own words, ‘would walk over broken glass for them’.

Results improved briefly, but Baxter couldn’t save Crusaders from dropping into the second tier. It meant an end to 56 consecutive seasons of senior football and the financial rewards that came with it. Time for a root-and-branch rebuild on the Shore Road.

What a rebuild it turned out to be. In his first full season as manager, Baxter led the Crues to the top of the Championship, scoring the most and conceding the fewest goals along the way.

Having previously lifted the title with Glentoran, Davy Rainey dropped down a division from Ards and fired in 30 goals to help prop up a young, talented squad that featured Colin Coates, Jordan Owens and Declan Caddell - players who would achieve legendary status in their own right.

The Hatchetmen were straight back to the big time.

What followed was the stuff of fairytales. It made the stuff of fairytales seem dull by comparison. From the brink of bankruptcy back to the pinnacle once more.

Three Irish Premiership titles, four Irish Cups, a League Cup, three County Antrim Shields, the Setanta Cup, European adventures, Fulham and Wolves on the Shore Road. That relegation play-off against Glenavon seems so long ago. Nineteen years to be exact.

Since announcing his departure from Seaview in February, accolades have been flooding in from players and managers past and present. For a job well done, but also for the man. A man who was just ‘here to help’, but ended up staying for almost two decades to experience the rise, fall and rise again of Crusaders Football Club.

Their future is much more secure now than it was back in February 2005, but change is around the corner once more as Declan Caddell prepares to step into his former manager’s shoes.

The fearless midfield general was a key player for Baxter, who shared the lowest of lows and highest of highs throughout his reign on the Shore Road. The baton has been passed.

A young, inexperienced coach. A club legend. A new era. It all sounds so familiar.