Cove Rangers re-hire Paul Hartley as manager
The former Scotland midfielder led the Toonsers to two promotions
Paul Hartley has been re-hired as manager of Cove Rangers, just seven months after quitting.
He'll be assisted by long-term colleague Gordon Young, on a contract until 2026.
Hartley left the Championship side for English League Two at the start of June, but a endured a miserable three months south of the border, picking up just one win in 11 games, and none in the league.
An impressive record
His record at Cove is far superior though, winning 66 of his 127 games charge during a three-year stint that was hampered by the pandemic.
They eased to the Scottish League 2 title in 2019/20, finishing 13 points clear at the top of the table.
His first attempt at promotion in League 1 ended prematurely due to the pandemic, with Cove sitting pretty in third place, four points from table-toppers Partick Thistle.
But in the season that followed, he guided the Toonsers to the second-tier for the first time in their history, losing just three league games the entire season.
A different challenge
This season will be like no other for Hartley and Cove though. They've already lost eight league games, whereas Hartley only lost 13 over three seasons.
Chairman Keith Moorhouse insisted in June that the clubs aim for the season was to maintain their position in the Championship, something Jim McIntyre was just about achieving until his sacking.
But Hartley will take over a hurting squad having just lost 6-1 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, as well as losing defenders Max Johnston and Jack Sanders after each were recalled by their parent club.