Football Season Guide

Cowdenbeath will be hoping this summer is a watershed and they can finally start looking up under manager Gary Bollan. Having inherited something of a nightmare situation when taking over at Central Park in November, he had to wait 15 league games before tasting victory for the first time and the side finished eight points adrift at the bottom of the table. The Blue Brazil faced a relegation play-off for the second season in succession and beat Cove Rangers 3-2 on aggregate to cling on to their Football League status. Bollan is an experienced manager and he spent much of last season looking to add experience to his squad. The only noteworthy departure over the summer is that of defender Scott Rumsby, who opted for a move to Clyde and has otherwise re-signed many of the players who impressed in the final weeks of the season. Goalkeeper David McGurn, defenders Bryan Gilfillan, Fraser Mullen and Harvey Swann, midfielders Brad Smith and Kyle Miller and strikers David Cox and Robbie Buchanan have all signed up and will form the basis of the team for the forthcoming campaign. Swann was voted player of the year having enjoyed a breakthrough season at Central Park whilst Buchanan was leading goalscorer. Bollan has been busy in the transfer market too this summer with the impressive signings of defenders Jason Talbot and Pat Scullion and midfielders David Marsh and Martin Scott, who all come with plenty of pedigree. There will be plenty of excitement too with the return of strikers Jordyn Sheerin and Kris Renton from Kelty Hearts and Alloa Athletic respectively. Midfielder Blair Malcolm was an influential figure last season too and with his loan move from Ross County having now been made permanent, there is plenty of cause for optimism for the Blue Brazil.