Declan Joseph McManus (born 3 August 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer for club Bangor City 1876. McManus has previously played for Aberdeen, Fleetwood Town, Greenock Morton, Alloa Athletic, Raith Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic, Ross County, Falkirk, The New Saints and Coleraine.
Career Aberdeen McManus made his debut for Aberdeen's first team on 28 April 2012, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat to Dunfermline Athletic. In the new season, McManus goalscoring form in the U20 league caught the eye of Dundee and Partick Thistle, who were keen to sign him on loan. In November 2012, McManus signed a new contract with the club that will keep him until 2015.
On 31 July 2013 McManus joined Alloa Athletic on a six-month loan deal. McManus made his first ever senior start in Alloa Athletic's 2–0 win in the League Cup First Round fixture against Peterhead. On 14 December 2013, McManus scored his first senior goal in Alloa's 2–0 win against Greenock Morton.
McManus moved on loan to Scottish League One club Greenock Morton on 8 August 2014. He scored his first ever senior hat-trick in a 5–2 cup victory over Berwick Rangers in August 2014, and left the club at the end of his loan spell having scored 12 goals in 21 starts. On 2 February 2015, McManus joined Greenock Morton for a second loan spell, signing until the end of the 2014–15 season. McManus was nominated for the SPFA League One player of the year for 2014–15, as well as being included in the League One Team of the Year with teammate Mark Russell. He won the Player of the Year award.
Fleetwood Town On 15 May 2015, McManus signed a pre-contract agreement with Fleetwood Town. On 31 December 2015, McManus returned for his third loan spell with Morton. In July 2016, McManus returned to Scotland, joining Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on loan. In May 2017 he left Fleetwood at the end of his contract
Dunfermline Athletic McManus returned north to Scotland in June 2017, signing for Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic on a one-year deal.
Ross County McManus signed for Ross County in June 2018 and was loaned to Falkirk on 16 July 2019. McManus was released by County in May 2020, following the end of his contract.
Dunfermline return Following his release from County, McManus re-signed for Dunfermline Athletic on 10 July 2020, joining the club on a two-year deal.
The New Saints After one season with Dunfermline, McManus moved to Cymru Premier club The New Saints on 14 June 2021, for a fee of £60,000. McManus scored a second half penalty to secure the Welsh side's first ever win in a competitive European match, defeating FC Astana 2-0.
Coleraine On 31 January 2025 he joined Coleraine. He scored his first goal for the club on 8 March as the club defeated Glenavon in a league game. He left the club by mutual consent in January 2026.
Bangor City 1876 In January 2026 he joined Welsh third-tier side Bangor City 1876.https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/former-coleraine-striker-makes-shock-third-tier-wales-transfer-to-club-showing-intent-and-ambition-5487259 In June 2026 he recommitted himself to the club for the 2026–27 Cymru North season. During the 2026–27 season he was briefly interim player-manager before the permanent appointment of Huw Griffiths as club manager.
International career Having represented Scotland in U18 and U19 Levels, McManus was called up for the U21 squad in 2014.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAberdeen2011–12Scottish Premier League20000000202012–13Scottish Premier League70000000702013–14Scottish Premiership30000000302014–15Scottish Premiership0000001Appearance in the Europa League010Total120000010130Alloa Athletic (loan)2013–14Scottish Championship181001000191Greenock Morton (loan)2014–15Scottish League One19900101Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup32112Scottish League One13110000001311Total32200010133423Fleetwood Town2015–16Football League One7110101Appearance in the Football League Trophy01012016–17EFL League One0000000000Total71101010101Greenock Morton (loan)2015–16Scottish Championship174300000204Raith Rovers (loan)2016–17Scottish Championship34521203Appearance in the Championship play-offs3419Dunfermline Athletic2017–18Scottish Championship32722535Appearance in the Premiership play-offs14413Ross County2018–19Scottish Championship322305151454Falkirk (loan)2019–20Scottish League One26194233103424Dunfermline Athletic2020–21Scottish Championship27910612Appearances in the Scottish Championship play-off03610The New Saints2021–22Welsh Premier League282431006Appearances in the Europa Conference League Qualifiers637312022–23Welsh Premier League2529430042 appearances in the Europa League & 2 appearances in Champions League033322023–24Welsh Premier League181335203326212024–25Welsh Premier League1252112121279Total8371121032251012393Career total320139281526104418418182
Honours Greenock Morton Scottish League One: 2014–15
Ross County Scottish Championship: 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup: 2018–19
The New Saints Cymru Premier: 2021–22, 2022-23, 2023-24
Scottish Challenge Cup Runner-up: 2018–19
Bangor City 1876 Ardal NW: 2025–26 FAW Trophy: 2025–26
Individual PFA Scotland League One Player of the Year: 2014–15 PFA Scotland League One Team of the Year: 2014–15 Greenock Telegraph Player of the Year: 2014–15 SPFL Championship Player of the Month: February 2016 Cymru Premier Player of the Season: 2021–22
References
External links