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The club is delighted to announce that Paul Hartley has agreed to take over as the new manager of Cove Rangers FC.

He is, of course, no stranger to Balmoral Stadium having guided the team to two promotions and the League Two and League One titles in 2020 and 2022, the latter success clinching our place in the second tier of Scottish football for the first time in the club’s history.

With preparations well underway for the current campaign, Paul was offered the vacant post at Hartlepool United last summer, and after much soul searching, decided it was a challenge he had to take on.

Following the departure of Jim McIntyre on Tuesday, and after weighing up all the options over an intensive forty-eight-hour period, Chairman, Keith Moorhouse, confirmed that Paul was the standout candidate:

“As a club, we know Paul and how he works, and given his availability, this decision makes sense for both parties. He understands Cove Rangers and shares our ambitions and given how well he worked with the players before, I am hoping the transition will be seamless.

“I want to look to the future now, and I feel we have the right man in place to take us forward.”

Paul says he is delighted to be returning to Balmoral Stadium and believes he has unfinished business with the club:

“I definitely think there is more to be achieved here. We put in a lot of hard work to get Cove Rangers 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 remain 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 will meet the squad at training this evening and will be in charge for Saturday’s home game with Queen’s Park. Gordon Young will also be returning to the club, and Jimmy Boyle is remaining as part of the coaching staff.

The new manager has signed a contract until summer 2026.

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