By Roy Coyle The Irish League's most successful manager

Roy Coyle has managed both Linfield and Glentoran

With one third of the league season almost complete, this year's Irish Premiership is shaping up to be one of the most interesting and exciting title races for many years and from an Irish League point of view, that's a very good thing.

It's nice that we have several teams challenging at the top of the table - although Linfield and Glentoran won't think so as they're used to having it their own way.

It's usually a foregone conclusion that one of the Belfast Big Two will win the league but that may not be the case this year.

Linfield and Glentoran are still the two biggest clubs but their players have to perform week in and week out and their supporters expect to win every game.

Some of the players who have been brought to those clubs have yet to prove that they can meet those standards so it's all to play for for the remainder of the season.

For the likes of Glenavon and Crusaders, being at the top of the table is not familiar territory, so it will be quite alien to them.

They will have to learn to become Public Enemy Number One and get used to the fact that teams will want to knock them off the top.

Teams are not intimidated by coming to Windsor Park and the Oval the way they used to be - the fear factor seems to have gone Roy Coyle

They will need mental toughness, as well as ability, to help them cope with the kind of pressure which Linfield and Glentoran are used to.

While a good starting XI is important, it's squads that win championships in the modern-day game and I'm doubtful if some of the teams at the summit have the strength in depth to cope with injuries and suspensions.

It would be a big ask for Crusaders to do without the likes of Rainey and for Glenavon to maybe be without Grant or Molloy.

The Blues and the Glens have maybe 18 or 19 players capable of performing to a high standard while the others have perhaps 13 or 14 and after that they have difficulty replacing like with like.

Cliftonville looked superb when they beat Linfield last week but could they replace Chris Scannell and George McMullan?

They, like the other clubs who could emerge as title contenders, need a bit of good fortune to help them along the way, but if they can keep their best players on the pitch, then I see no reason why they cannot maintain their challenge.

Teams are not intimidated by coming to Windsor Park and the Oval the way they used to be and the fear factor seems to have gone.

Dungannon have impressed me this season as they pass the ball well, have good width and some good striking power but realistically I can only see them finishing mid-table.

Stephen Baxter's side lead the Carling Premiership

Newry have a new manager in John McDonnell and it's a matter of how quickly he can settle in there and get his side to produce some consistent results.

Similarly to the Swifts, I can't see them challenging at the top but I don't think they'll struggle at the bottom either.

Portadown look to have a decent squad but the league table doesn't lie and there are no false positions after teams have played 11 games.

They have not won enough matches and are in danger of getting sucked in to the relegation zone - what they need are a couple of back-to-back victories to boost their confidence.

Coleraine started well but have had a bad run of late and that is bound to affect their belief a bit.

They still have time on their side but they will want to get out of there before the turn of the year as it is difficult to get out of a relegation battle if you are near the bottom of the table by Christmas.

Ballymena impressed me against Linfield on Saturday and they have a number of good young players but they had enough chances to win the game and didn't put those chances away - a bit of a killer instinct is needed.

Tommy Wright has come in at Lisburn Distillery and they have a real uphill struggle ahead, having only one point from 10 games.

They will need to get up and running pretty soon or their task will be like climbing Everest with skates on.

Roy Coyle was talking to BBC Sport NI's Richard Petrie

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