2 days ago
Joining Larne was the best move I made, but I'm home for my daughter, says ex-Accies ace
Shaun Want is back in Scotland and looking for a club after three years in Northern Ireland
Rutherglen ace Shaun Want says moving to Larne in Northern Ireland was the best decision of his career – but needs a return to Scotland after the birth of his infant daughter.
Larne finished second in the Northern Ireland Football League Premiership, qualifying for the Europa Conference League play-off, but Want is out of contract after three years at the club.
A contract extension offer was on the table, but 28-year-old Want has opted to return home for family reasons.
Larne's Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year, and also the recipient of three fans' Player of the Year awards, wants a return to Scotland, following the birth of daughter Amelia seven months ago.
He said: 'I'm out of contract, and they've offered me one, but I'm not long having a baby, I have a seven-month old daughter, so I'm looking at my options.
'There's more to life than football, now, when you have a wee one. I've been living away and for seven months I've been back and forth.
'I've got to the stage now that I just want to be closer to home and be with my daughter every day.
'It has been brilliant at Larne – if it was a different situation I'd still be here, because I've loved every minute of it.
'It was a good season. We finished second in the league and qualified for Europe, and it was a good season for me, personally, with all the awards.
'We reached the league phase of the Conference League last season, which was an added bonus, and with us finishing second, we qualified for the play-offs for the Conference League.'
Want came up through the youth set-up at Hamilton Accies, but left there for Larne in 2022.
He said: 'It's the best decision I've made for me, personally, in my career. Playing in Europe and winning leagues is something I never thought I'd be able to achieve.
'I was at Hamilton for 13 years, and there were ups and downs, but I think it got to the point where I needed a fresh start.
'I think I went at the right time and I got that fresh start, I was there for so long, but I have nothing bad to say
about the club. I wasn't playing every week at Hamilton, because I'd been there for so long I think I ended up being part of the furniture, and I think it was just the right thing for me to get a fresh start.
'I went to Larne, basically as an unknown, and I've loved every minute.
'Going there was a whole different experience, but my circumstances have changed, and I need to get back home for the family.'
Want added: 'If I'm coming back to Scotland, I'm coming back a better player and a much better person, too.
'I'm realistic enough to know that Premiership would be hard to get, so I'm probably looking for an opportunity in the Championship.
'I want an opportunity to come back to Scotland and prove my ability here, because I've been over in Northern Ireland for three or four years.
'I feel that I would be coming back as a better player.'
A statement from Larne read: 'We can confirm that Shaun Want will depart the club upon the expiry of his contract this month, returning to Scotland for family reasons.
'The club respects Shaun's decision to put family first and wishes him the best of luck at his next club. Thank you for your time as an Inver Red.'
