Jimmy Nicholl named boss as Cowden go for experience

Published 29 Jun 2010 08:59 0 Comments

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COWDENBEATH have turned to one of Fife senior football's most experienced backroom men as their new manager.

The Blue Brazil appointed Jimmy Nicholl, the former Raith Rovers manager and Dunfermline Athletic assistant, as their supremo on Friday.

Mr Nicholl will be remembered as the man who took Raith to league cup success and European football in the mid 1990s, and assisted Jimmy Calderwood for five years in one of the Pars' finest periods of their recent history.

Having been Mr Calderwood's assistant at Aberdeen and Kilmarnock as well, the Clackmannanshire based former Northern Ireland international has opted to go back into management at Central Park.

New Cowden chairman Donald Findlay said that his experience would be important as the Fifers try to establish themselves in the Barrs Irn Bru First Division.

He said, "Jimmy has many qualities and considerable experience and is keen to take on the challenge of establishing us as a First Division club."

Mr Nicholl said he was delighted to be given the chance to work with his third Fife senior side. He commented, "I talked to a number of people about the club and met with the chairman and I have a gut feeling that this is a positive place to be. I have total respect for what Danny Lennon and the players have achieved over the past two years and it is my intention to gain their respect and continue to take this club forward."

The board came to their decision at the end of last week after interviewing several candidates for the post.

Lochgelly man Dick Campbell was one of the people they had shown interest in but he opted to stay with Forfar Athletic. But in Jimmy Nicholl they could not have got a more experienced man. At Raith he master-minded their league cup win over Celtic while the club was a First Division side and was to guide the Rovers into the Premier League.

He was also at the helm as Raith entered the European fray for the first time and one of their ties saw them run German giants Bayern Munich close.

After a spell in English football he returned to the Fife scene in 1999 when he became Dick Campbell's assistant at East End Park and he continued in that role under Jimmy Calderwood as the Pars cemented their place in the SPL and made the Scottish Cup final in 2004. When Mr Calderwood went to Aberdeen he followed him and joined up at Kilmarnock under the former NEC boss last January.

Now he is ready to manage Cowden and he intends to announce a player/assistant some time this week.

Colin Cameron, the former Hearts, Raith and Wolves midfielder, was expected to be named in the role at the time of going to press.

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