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GARY LOCKE admits he will have to ‘adapt’ after entering the part-time ranks for the first time in his career with Cowdenbeath.
The former Hearts, Kilmarnock and Raith Rovers manager will take charge of the Blue Brazil for the first time at home to Elgin City on Tuesday night after watching his new side from the stand as they defeated Berwick Rangers 3-1 at the weekend.
It was the Central Park outfit’s first victory in eight games and hauled them to within five points of second-bottom Clyde, with a game in hand.
Locke, who has confirmed ex-Hearts number two Billy Brown and former Cowdenbeath hero Neil Irvine as his backroom team, is desperate to build on Saturday’s success and haul the Fifers away from the dreaded bottom spot in League Two and the threat of relegation from the SPFL.
However, after a playing career that took him from Hearts to Bradford City to Kilmarnock, the 41-year-old accepts he is entering unchartered territory.
He said: “I’ve missed the buzz of being involved on match day, so I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into it and we’ll see what happens.
“It will be different for me, because part-time football is not something I’m used to.
“I never played part-time in my career either, so it’s something I’m going to have to adapt to.
PROFESSIONAL
“But, the way football is nowadays, sometimes it’s best for players to play part-time and earn half-decent money in a job.
“They’re all professional in their approach, I know that from working with a few of them in my time at Hearts.
“If I can get the best out of them then we’re hopeful we can get the club back up the league.
“But, first, we’ve got an important game against Elgin to focus on and I’m looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Cowdenbeath first-team coach Neil Hastings has left the club after helping experienced midfielder Burton O’Brien take the team for the match at Berwick at the weekend.
