Published: Thursday, 12th June, 2008 11:00
Blue Brazil boss gets the boot
By Jim Stark
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IN a day of dramatic events Cowdenbeath Football Club parted company with manager Brian Welsh on Tuesday.
The new owners for around a year, Innovate Cowdenbeath Ltd., issued a statement on Tuesday evening which called time on Mr Welsh’s 20 month reign as boss of the Blue Brazil.
There was little indication of what was to come when the Times called on the manager last Thursday to check on how his recruitment campaign was going for the new season.
The manager indicated that he was chasing six players and was awaiting responses to offers and he left on holiday at the weekend with the mechanism in place to secure the signings if positive replies came.
But on Tuesday night came the statement which indicated that the manager was being relieved of his post with assistant Danny Lennon taking over.
It said that as part of a streamlining of the club for life in the Third Division only one full-time employee was to remain, Mr Lennon, with coach, part-timer Brian Hamilton, stepping up to become assistant boss.
Both Mr Welsh and Mr Lennon went full-time last season as part of the youth academy system at the club which sees several youngsters working full-time at Cowden. Clearly the owners saw that as unworkable in Division Three.
Said the Innovate Cowdenbeath statement, “The contract of manager Brian Welsh has been terminated as part of the club’s restructuring following demotion.
“The board would like to thank Brian for his efforts and commitment to the club with particular focus on youth development and wish him all the very best for the future”.
Mr Lennon was pleased to be asked to take over. He said, “This comes at an exciting time for the club and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead”.
Mr Welsh is currently abroad on holiday but it comes as another dramatic chapter for him in a year that has brought relegation from the Second Division after a play-off with Arbroath but also a successful end to his bid to claim for damages for his playing career being ended prematurely through injury.
On Tuesday night players and coaching staff were called to Central Park to be updated on developments.
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