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Having impressed during pre-season training and quickly agreed to a return north, new Cove Rangers signing Ryan Harrington says he cannot wait for the competitive action to begin in little over a week.

The Welshman came through the youth ranks at Aberdeen and had a loan spell with Montrose before playing in recent seasons for The New Saints and Connah’s Quay Nomads in his homeland. Now twenty-five, and with top league experience in Wales and in European competition behind him, Ryan was delighted to be given a chance to win a deal at Balmoral Stadium.

Having watched the defender in training and the early pre-season friendlies, Paul Hartley moved quickly, and Ryan had no doubts about signing for the club:

“I was given the opportunity to come in during the time we had off, worked with the gaffer and the team and really enjoyed it, so I quickly agreed to come in.

“I knew a few of the faces from my time up here before when I was with Aberdeen and out on loan, so that definitely made things easier. They’re a great bunch of lads, they’ve really looked after me, so it’s been really easy to feel a part of things. It’s been great, a really good atmosphere, and the transition has been dead easy.”

Ryan says it has also helped having a run of warm-up matches to get involved in:

“It’s all been about getting to know how the team plays, what the manager wants, and of course showing what I can do. It’s all a bit of a learning curve, but I feel it’s gone well. It probably helps that I can play on both sides, I’m comfortable on the left or right, and I’m happy to play either depending on what suits the team best.”

Fans who have attended the friendlies will have identified Ryan as a defender who likes that side of the game, but is also more than happy to get involved further up the pitch:

“I do like to get goals, I scored a few last season, and I want to add more of that to my game. I will get forward when I can, but it’s also important to keep clean sheets and it’s all about getting the right balance.

“I feel as if I’m learning all the time, I expect to feed off the older guys but also to do my bit to help the younger ones, and that’s the kind of changing room we have here.”

The serious business gets underway a week on Tuesday when we kick-off our Premier Sports Cup campaign against The Spartans at Balmoral Stadium on July 16th, and that is an evening Ryan is relishing:

“I’m really looking forward to that, we all are; those are the games that really matter. You set your own personal targets, the manager sets his, and obviously we’ll all be looking at getting promotion again. For me, it will be all about getting as many minutes as I can, getting some goals and clean sheets. I can’t wait to get started.”

The full interview with Ryan can be viewed at the Cove Rangers FC YouTube Channel.

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