Cowdenbeath FC - Manager Position

Cowdenbeath FC are very pleased to now announce the appointment of Calum Elliot as our new manager.

Calum hails from Edinburgh and played in over 100 matches for Hearts in an 8-year spell at Tynecastle despite being hampered by some injury problems. He also had loan spells with Motherwell, Livingston and Dundee. He was capped at various levels by Scotland, including 8 times at under-21 level.

After leaving Hearts, he enjoyed a successful spell with Zalgiris Vilnius where he was in the side which won the Lithuanian Football Federation Cup. On returning to Scotland he had a brief spell with Alloa before joining Raith Rovers in 2013 where he featured in the side that defeated Rangers in the the Ramsdens Cup final. In 2015 though he was forced to retire due to knee injuries.

He then moved into coaching and management roles with Edinburgh United and then down in Cornwall. Calum then came home to Edinburgh and took up the post as manager of Tynecastle FC in the East of Scotland League B Conference. Tynecastle were runaway champions of the league in 2019/20 – unbeaten in 23 league games including 21 wins when the season concluded early as Covid struck. The following season 2020/21 saw Calum move to take on the manager’s position at Tranent Juniors in what was another Covid-hit season. When the League was halted Tranent were top of the table and undefeated in 12 games. Then, with the return to normality in the following season, Tranent Juniors enjoyed one of their finest ever seasons culminating in them winning the East of Scotland Premier Division with only 2 defeats in 34 matches. That took them to the play off which saw them face the West of Scotland League champions Darvel. Darvel were strong favourites but were beaten 2-0 on their own turf by Tranent who thus were promoted to the Lowland League.

Calum elected to step down as Tranent manager early in 2022/23 when the club had collected 10 points from their opening 5 Lowland League matches. Latterly, he took charge at Penicuik Athletic for a few weeks before accepting the Cowdenbeath post.

Club Chairman, Donald Findlay said, "I am sure that everyone will join me and the Board in welcoming Calum Elliot to Central Park as our new manager. He comes with a proven track record of building winning teams and we are confident that he is the right person to lead the team as we pursue our desire to take our Club forward. I hope that every Cowdenbeath supporter, wherever they may be, will get wholeheartedly behind Calum and do all they can to back him and the Club."

Calum also shared his initial thoughts after agreeing his deal with the club, "I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to manage Cowdenbeath Football Club. After speaking with the club and hearing their ambitions I felt it was not a job I could turn down.

I consciously started at the bottom of the pyramid and wanted to earn the right to move up. I have done this by bringing success to every club I have been at and I fully back myself to do the same at Cowdenbeath. I will work tirelessly to provide a team which the supporters can not only be excited by, but be proud of. Despite some tough times the fans support has been unwavering and with your continued backing we can drive this club together to bring good times back to the club.

I’m fully aware what is needed to be done to make that happen again and the work starts now."

Colin Jack, our assistant manager who ably stepped in to assist as interim manager will now be leaving the club with our thanks and best wishes. The Chairman said, "On a personal level, I would like to thank Colin Jack for all his hard work on our behalf. Colin is a gentleman and a talented coach. I have no doubt that he will make a significant contribution to the game. I am sure that everyone at Central Park wishes him all the best for the future."

Calum Elliot will take up his duties after Saturday’s match where he will be in attendance and we are most grateful to Iain Davidson who will now take the team on Saturday.

Finally, thanks too to all the many applicants for the role. It was of course not possible to interview everyone but we will also respond personally in the next few days.