Cowdenbeath keen to hang on to ‘first-class’ & ‘assured’ Gary Locke as boss after leading them to SPFL survival

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COWDENBEATH are expected to make a bid to hang on to Gary Locke after showering praise on the manager following his success in keeping the club in the senior leagues.

The former Hearts, Kilmarnock and Raith Rovers boss was brought in on a short-term deal in March, charged with staving off relegation from League Two.

The Blue Brazil clung to their SPFL status courtesy of a penalty-kicks win over East Kilbride in Saturday’s play-off after Locke and assistant Billy Brown presided over just three defeats from their 13 matches in charge.

The Central Park board met on Monday to discuss the season and their plans for the new campaign and are understood to be keen on agreeing a longer stay for Locke.

A statement read: “The board of Cowdenbeath Football Club [records] its thanks to the club’s management team of Gary Locke, Billy Brown and Neil Irvine.

“They had done a first-class job after coming on board with only around two months of the season left.

“Their energy, experience, commitment and professionalism reinvigorated the club such that only three defeats were suffered in our last 13 matches.

“The team spirit and confidence they helped engender was second to none, culminating in our play-off win over a high-flying, ambitious East Kilbride side in what was one of the most important matches in the club’s long history.

“Gary led the way in an assured manner right from the date of his appointment, whilst you could not ask for better lieutenants in Billy – that great enthusiast who flew back from his family holiday in Magaluf for our last match – and Neil.”