The former Brantwood boss fills the vacancy left by the dismissal of Neil Candlish at the end of last season.

Irwin has considerable experience in junior and intermediate football circles and he will have to use all that know-how to turn around a Corner team who have spent most of recent seasons in the doldrums.

Last season they finished bottom of the Interim League, prompting the Board to feel that it was time for a new man at the helm.

Irwin comes with an impressive pedigree, having had spells in charge of Glentoran Seconds, Harland and Wolff Welders and Crusaders Reserves.

When the Seaview club’s senior side dropped out of the top division, they disbanded their reserve team and Irwin headed for nearby Brantwood, where his spell peaked on Christmas morning 1996, when the north Belfast side beat the Welders 4-3 to win the Steel and Sons Cup - intermediate football’s showpiece trophy.

Irwin, a UEFA ‘B’ Licence coach, will bring his former assistant, ex-Coleraine and Crusaders left-back David Keery, with him to Allen Park, while the rest of his backroom team will be finalised in due course.

“Rab has been out of football since last May but now he says he’s ready for the challenge,” Corner secretary John Robinson told Times Sport.

“In that time there were a number of Amateur League clubs interested in having him take charge but he wanted to take a break from football.

“He has a lot of contacts within the game which I’m sure will help us.

“He met with a number of the locally-based players last week and told them they will be given every chance to prove themselves.

“He said he won’t inundate the place with new players unless there are particular areas that need strengthening.

“As well as that, he has thrown down the gauntlet to any players from the Antrim area who feel they can make the step up to come along to training tonight (Tuesday) and have a look around the place and speak to a few people.”

Irwin’s arrival is a boost ahead of a crucial week in which Corner will find out if they will play in the second tier of the IFA Championship next season.

The club has been working around the clock to ensure that all the necessary facilities are completed in time for today’s (Tuesday) deadline for inspection by the IFA.

Among the upgrades are a new 105-seater stand on the social club side of the ground, new changing rooms for players and officials, new dugouts and turnstiles.

“It has been a busy place in the last few weeks, with everything from plumbers to people laying floors around the place but we’re hopeful that the inspection will go without a hiccup.

“It’s vitally important that we are accepted into the Championship because there’s no ‘safety net’ of an Interim League this season - you only have to look at the example of Brantwood, who knew they couldn’t renovate their ground to meet the criteria and have now dropped down to the Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League,” added John.