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When Paul Hartley walked back through the front door of Balmoral Stadium this morning it was with a sense of relief and a determination to finish the job he started in 2019.

Back then, Paul took up the reins after John Sheran had led the team to the SPFL, but had stood down after suffering a heart attack, and the new man quickly developed a deep affection for the club.

He guided the side to the League Two title that season, suffered play-off heartbreak at Airdrie twelve months later, and then enjoyed a glorious campaign in League One which clinched our place in the Championship.

With preparations well underway for the club’s first stab at second tier football, a massive carrot was dangled in front of the Cove manager, and after much persistence from the English side, and much soul-searching on his part, Paul decided to make the move to Hartlepool United:

“Sometimes you have to take a chance in life, you have to back yourself. I wouldn’t say I have any regrets, there’s no point in dwelling on past decisions, and you have to try to take positives from negatives. I think I should have been given longer there, but they decided otherwise, and that’s the point where you have to start looking to the future.”

Paul says he is delighted to be returning to Balmoral Stadium and has unfinished business with Cove Rangers:

“I definitely believe there is more to be achieved here. We put in a lot of hard work to get the club up to the Championship, not just myself and Gordon, but a lot of other people behind the scenes, such as the Chairman, who worked so hard over many years to push Cove up through the leagues.

“Now it is all about staying in the Championship. It is a big challenge; I know how difficult the division is. There are teams fighting for their lives and our task will be to stay well clear of trouble.

“I’m delighted to be back; it feels like a homecoming and now I just can’t wait to get started.”

Paul is well aware how difficult the job will be and of the issues he is going to have to address:

“The good thing is I know and have worked with most of the players and the people around the club. We had a successful time there, and while this is a new beginning, I know what it’s going to take, and so do the players.

“I have been looking at the results, and I have seen that Cove have beaten the top teams in the division. That shows me there is quality in the dressing room, what we’re going to need is more consistency.

“We are short on numbers right now thanks to injuries and loan players being recalled, and I might need to bring five or six players in, which isn’t always easy in the January window, but I’m across that and would expect to have some good news in the near future.

“More than anything, I’m just excited to be back here. This club means a lot to me, and I can promise the fans I will be fully committed as we look to secure our status in the Championship.”

Paul has signed a long-term contract which will see him remain at Balmoral Stadium until at least the summer of 2026. He will be joined by his former assistant, Gordon Young, while Jimmy Boyle will be remaining on the coaching staff.

The new manager will return to the home dugout for the first time on Saturday for the visit of Queen’s Park.

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