COWDENBEATH have pulled off a real coup after confirming that the former sporting director at Hearts, Joe Savage, has joined the board at Central Park.
The club announced on Monday that the experienced football administrator has been appointed as a director.
And he is determined to play a role in helping Cowden achieve their ultimate aim of getting back into the Scottish Professional Football League, after their demotion in 2022.
He said: "It is a real honour and privilege to be joining the board of Cowdenbeath FC.
“As a club I know well, I look forward to helping them achieve their ambitions of getting back into the SPFL and building something the fans and community can be proud of."
Joe’s career in football has encompassed roles on and off the pitch. He enjoyed a playing career in both the senior and junior ranks. Playing as a forward, his senior clubs included East Stirlingshire, Stenhousemuir, Arbroath, Albion Rovers and East Fife.
Joe then hung up his boots before he was 30 as he looked to take his football journey in a different direction. He initially took up a post as director of recruitment and analysis at Hamilton Accies, when Alex Neil was manager. He subsequently followed Alex down south and worked further with him as chief scout at Norwich City and head of recruitment for Preston North End.
In January 2021, he was appointed sporting director at Hearts as they won the Scottish Championship that season. At Tynecastle, he had a wide-ranging remit across the club’s football operations and was highly thought of. He stepped down in 2024.
During that period he oversaw the signings of Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland, and midfielder Cammy Devlin, who have both followed their manager of last season, Derek McInnes, to Rangers.
Hearts also qualified for Europe three years in a row through their league position - for the first time in the club's history.
Joe was involved in developing the club’s youth academy and created the 'B' team for the club, to provide a pathway from youth to senior football, and this team played several times against Cowdenbeath when they were demoted to the Lowland League in 2022.
After departing Tynecastle, he took a break before he started up his own football consultancy business.
Now he has agreed to join the Cowdenbeath board as his next move in football at a time when the club has lost several directors over the past few months for various reasons.
A spokesperson for the Cowden board said: “Joe will contribute a welcome wealth of experience and football insight to the boardroom at Central Park.
“He will look to bring his skills to bear as the club seeks to take positive steps and actions to enhance its operations and its standing and make an impact this season.”
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