WHEN Cowdenbeath kick-off their bid to return to the Scottish League, fans may not recognise many of the team.

After losing the League Two play-off final to Bonnyrigg Rose and relegation to the Lowland League, manager Maurice Ross said big changes were needed after two really poor seasons for the Blue Brazil.

And that's likely to be in personnel.

Speaking to Times Sport before he left on holiday, club secretary David Allan said he felt that few of last season’s squad would be involved in the way ahead.

“Last season was indeed very disappointing, with only seven wins from 36 starts being achieved, and the main problem was a lack of goals,” he observed.

“I know that the manager has a view on the way ahead and it will be interesting to see how things develop.

“The players’ contracts run out over the next few days and Maurice will speak to the boys he wants for next season and will then look to recruit new faces.”

Ross' point was that last season wasn't a one-off, Cowden have flirted with relegation for a number of years now.

In 58 league games – last season being curtailed by Covid – Cowdenbeath managed only 12 wins and after finishing second bottom of the table in 2020-21, they finished this campaign as SPFL club 42 for the third time in five seasons.

This time there was no great escape.

After Bonnyrigg completed a comfortable 4-0 aggregate victory with a win in the second leg at Central Park, Ross said there was a need for a different approach to build a team capable of returning to League Two.

He talked of a different structure and a squad of ambitious, good quality youngsters aided by some more experienced players.

The problem Ross will face is persuading players to stay after relegation to the less glamorous surroundings of the Lowland League, with some of his better performers likely to be targets for League Two clubs.

That could include the likes of Craig Thomson, Jamie Todd, Fraser Mullen and Robbie Buchanan.

Striker Andrew Barrowman is returning to the USA this summer but may return as part of the new set-up.

Two players Ross may look to keep are midfielder Kyle Miller and utility player Harvey Swann.

Miller has been at Cowdenbeath since he was a youth player, and Swann, also a product of the club’s former youth system, can play in defence or midfield, and can even play as attacker on the left hand side.

The budget will be tight for the new season, although Cowdenbeath are to receive a ‘parachute payment’ of £40,000 as compensation for dropping out of the league.