Highland League digest: Fraserburgh management sign extensions while Clachnacuddin tie up key man
Manager Mark Cowie says he is hungry to deliver more success for Fraserburgh after he and assistant manager James Duthie signed contract extensions.
The duo, who are the longest-serving management team in the Breedon Highland League, have put pen to paper on deals until the summer of 2029.
Since their appointment in April 2015 Cowie and Duthie have led the Broch to the Breedon Highland League title, four Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cups and four Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shields.
Cowie hopes there are more good days ahead, and said: 'We're on the cusp of a transition or a rebuild of our squad in the years to come and it would maybe have been easy for James and I to walk away.
'But we've still got the fire in our belly to oversee that and to continue doing the job and trying to make the club as successful as we can.
'We're delighted we'll be at Fraserburgh for years to come.' Preparing for the future
Looking ahead, Cowie is preparing for a time when some of Fraserburgh's stalwarts decide to hang up their boots.
But he is confident the Bellslea outfit can continue to challenge for silverware as new faces come into the fold.
He added: 'We need to make sure we're pushing on the next generation of players and we've already started doing that.
'We've got guys like Willie West, Bryan Hay, Jamie Beagrie, Paul Young and Scott Barbour who I love to bits and who have been a massive part of the success the club has had.
'There will come a day when they're no longer playing, but they're as hungry as ever. Mark Cowie has won nine trophies as Fraserburgh manager.
'When you're getting towards the end of your time, it makes you more determined to be successful – and they're putting in more than ever before to try to be successful.
'I don't think they're at the end yet. They've still got a few more good years ahead of them.
'We want the club to continue being successful, so to do that we need to set the standards and the players need follow them.
'It's our job to make sure that new players that come to the club and youngsters that come through achieve what they're capable of.
'The club has been really good to me. I was a nobody 10 years ago who threw my hat into the ring for the job.
'The club gave me the job and a lot of trust has been placed in me during the last 10 years and there's more trust being placed in me with this contract extension.
'I want to give back to the club, I'll be doing my best for the club and hopefully it can be a good period for us.' Banks o' Dee trio sign on
Meanwhile, Banks o' Dee have announced Lachie MacLeod, Mark Gilmour and Magnus Watson have signed contract extensions.
The trio have enjoyed plenty of success in both the Junior and Highland League ranks during their time at Spain Park.
As part of their new deals striker MacLeod and midfielder Gilmour are set to receive testimonials as they close in on a decade of service in the first-team.
Midfielder Watson has broken through in recent years and returned to action towards the end of the season after a long spell on the sidelines. Key business for Clachnacuddin
Conor Gethins reckons securing James Anderson on a new contract is a massively important piece of business for Clachnacuddin.
The striker, who netted 23 goals in the 2024-25 season, only had a year left on his deal, but has penned an extension to stay with the Lilywhites beyond the summer of 2026.
After finishing sixth in the Breedon Highland League, manager Gethins reckons it's crucial the likes of Anderson remain at Grant Street if Clach are to progress again next term.
Gethins said: 'I think it's a massively important piece of business to keep a goalscorer like James. James Anderson has committed his future to Clach.
'There's been quite a significant bit of interest in James over the last year.
'He finished the season really strongly and when I spoke to him about the season, being honest he didn't really kick into gear until November.
'We challenged him to get fitter and give us more. He really kicked on and finished the season really well.
'I think it's important that Clach aren't going to be a feeder club for other teams.
'Yes Connor Bunce moved on this season, but we got a former Highland League player of the year in Andrew Macrae joining us as part of the deal.
'We want to push on as high as we can as a club so it's important we retain players like James.' Natural goalscorer knack
Anderson has notched more than 50 goals for Clach, but Gethins believes the best is yet to come from the 23-year-old and has challenged him to continue delivering for the Inverness outfit in the years ahead.
He added: 'I think we're stronger now than we were a year ago and I don't see why James can't score 20 goals plus every season.
'James is a natural goalscorer and that's something you can't really coach.
'Yes you can coach movement and positioning, but you can't coach that knack of being a natural goalscorer and James has that knack.
'I want James to have the mentality of expecting to score in every game he plays and hopefully I can help him with that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Press and Journal
11-06-2025
- Press and Journal
Highland League digest: Inverurie Locos captain reveals injury has ruled him out for new season - plus news from Lossiemouth, Deveronvale, Rothes and Huntly
Greg Mitchell has revealed he will miss the whole of the 2025-26 season due to a knee injury – but the Inverurie Locos captain is determined to bounce back stronger. The defender ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and tore the meniscus in his left knee playing for the Railwaymen against Rothes on March 1. Following surgery on May 26, Mitchell has been told he will miss all of the new campaign, which is also set to be his testimonial season. The 29-year-old, who joined Inverurie 12 years ago, said: 'The operation went well and the surgeon was happy with how it went, so the recovery has started. 'It's the first long-term injury I've had, but I'm not going to let it put me down and I'm going to come back. 'When you hear ACL initially you think the worst, but it just makes me more determined to get back playing. 'I understand it will take 10 to 12 months to get back, but I'll do the rehab properly and get myself back. 'I've never had any thoughts about stopping playing because of this, it's just made me more determined to come back fitter and stronger. 'I love Locos and I enjoy playing for the club, so I'm determined to come back.' Skipper Mitchell admits he's disappointed he will miss next season, particularly because of the progress made by Inverurie in the last couple of years. In 2024, they won the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup to secure their first silverware since 2016, while last term the Garioch outfit finished fourth in the Breedon Highland League – their highest position in a completed season since 2018. Mitchell added: 'The last couple of seasons have been good with the progress we've made. The club is going in the right direction and I want to be part of that. 'It's frustrating to be missing the new season because I think it's going to be a very exciting season for the club. 'I won't be playing, but I'll still try to contribute in some way, even if it's just encouraging the boys or offering advice here and there.' Mitchell, who works as an account manager for John Bell Pipeline, says the support network he has around him is also giving him the drive to get back playing. He said: 'My partner Taylor, my family, my team-mates and the people at the club have all been first-class. 'Taylor's having to do all the running about for me, so she's got plenty to put up with! 'Everyone's been great, I've had team-mates coming round to see me, I've got a good support network around me and I'm determined to come back. 'I also need mention my work because they've been brilliant. It's 12 years since I joined John Bell Pipeline and they've been really supportive from the start. 'When I first got injured I was off for a wee while and then I was off for a couple of weeks after the operation and only returned to working from home on Tuesday. 'When your employer supports you in that way, it means a lot.' Lossiemouth manager Steve Porter is confident new signing Ethan Blanchard can handle the step up to the Breedon Highland League. After a quiet close season at Grant Park, the Coasters have made their first addition by securing the 21-year-old on a two-year contract from Deveronside, who he helped to Elginshire Cup glory last season. Blanchard can play at right-back or on the right of midfield, and boss Porter said: 'I first coached Ethan at Elgin when he was 11 or 12 and I coached him for a few years. 'He's played junior with Deveronside and I've kept in touch with him and I watched him a few times this year and he's done really well. 'With Owen Paterson being away in Australia, we needed a right-back and I think Ethan fits the bill really well, but he can play as a right winger as well. 'He's quick and technically he's very good. I don't think there's any question in terms of Ethan's ability, it's just about him gaining experience at this level as he steps up. 'It's just a case of him getting up to speed in the Highland League, but he's buzzing about the challenge so that's good.' This summer Lossie have lost a number of players. Ross Morrison and Ross Paterson have joined Buckie Thistle, Owen Paterson has moved to Australia, while Niall Kennedy and Baylee Campbell have switched to junior outfit Lossiemouth United. However, Porter is hopeful he'll be able to bring in more new faces. He added: 'At Lossie, if we see a young player with potential, or there's somebody in the juniors doing well who hasn't had the opportunity in the Highland League before, we'll give them a chance. 'The reality is we're not in a position to go and sign players and pay the fees some clubs may pay, so we try to find players that can develop with us and do well for us. 'We'd like to bring in a few more boys. It's not easy, but we'll keep trying and the board are working hard to support me and to try to move the club forward as well. 'I think Ethan will do well for us. The likes of Ryan Matheson and Shaun Cameron came in from the juniors last season and did well so hopefully Ethan can do the same. 'With the guys we've lost it's just been circumstances really – as much as I would have liked to have kept them, it's the way it goes. 'I can understand why Ross Morrison and Ross Paterson wished to take on a new challenge. 'Owen has moved to Australia, Niall's move is work related and Baylee doesn't feel like he's ready to play Highland League yet after his knee injury (sustained in July 2023).' Chairman Aaron Lorimer is hoping Deveronvale can keep progressing after their management team signed contract extensions. Manager Garry Wood and coaches Grant Noble, Graeme Watt, Scott Bridgewater and Wayne Urquhart are all now committed to the Banffers until the summer of 2027. Wood was appointed as Vale boss in May 2024 and led them to an 11th-placed finish in the Breedon Highland League in the 2024-25 season. Lorimer, who became chairman at Princess Royal Park last year, is optimistic that they can continue making strides up the table in the coming years. He said: 'It's great news for Deveronvale that the management team are all signed up for the next couple of years. 'Under the current management team we've made exceptional progress. 'We went from being 16th in 2024 to 11th this year, which we were really pleased with. 'Hopefully we can progress again and keep making gradual improvements in the next few years. 'We've got a young squad and we believe the players have got a lot of potential to continue improving in the years ahead. 'There's a good buzz around the club again, the crowds improved last season and the hospitality is as busy as it's ever been so there are good signs on and off the pitch. 'I've really enjoyed being chairman during the last year and myself and the board are keen to keep trying to move the club forward.' Rothes defender Brodie Mitchell has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract until the summer of 2027. The 18-year-old joined the Speysiders last August from Elgin City and made 27 appearances during the 2024-25 campaign. Mitchell follows Jake Thomson, Owen Alexander and Matthew McConachie in signing extensions this summer as manager Ronnie Sharp gears up for next term. Elsewhere, Adam Morris has left Huntly to relocate to Liverpool. The 21-year-old midfielder hails from Merseyside, but arrived in the Breedon Highland League in December 2021 when he signed for Fort William under Shadab Iftikhar. In the summer of 2022, Morris joined Huntly. He moved south again after a year, before returning to Christie Park in May 2024. Black and Golds boss Colin Charlesworth said: 'Adam has been an enjoyable player to work with. His attitude in training is unmatched and his commitment to the club can't be questioned. 'He's been ever present this season. 'After suffering a nasty leg break the year before signing with us, this season was always going to be a bit of a rebuild for him leading into the next one. 'Unfortunately things outwith Adam's control have meant he will need to head back to Liverpool. 'He'll be a loss around the playing squad for us, however, we fully understand his position and thank him for his time with us.'
Press and Journal
02-06-2025
- Press and Journal
Ross County coaching reshuffle sees John Robertson appointed as assistant manager
Ross County have shaken up their coaching setup by appointing John Robertson as Don Cowie's new assistant manager. As part of the reshuffle, previous number two Carl Tremarco and coach Paul Cowie will leave Victoria Park. In a statement, County say they retain belief that the 'dedicated and talented' Cowie remains the right man to lead the club following their relegation to the Championship. Robertson, who briefly managed the Staggies in 2005 and has had two stints as Caley Thistle boss, has been drafted in to add experience to assist Cowie – who played under Robertson during his spell in Dingwall. The 60-year-old has also had spells in charge of Hearts, Livingston, Derry City in East Fife, with his last role within football coming as Inverness' sporting director – prior to his departure in November 2023. In recent months, Robertson, who is still based in the Highlands, has regularly covered County matches for BBC Scotland. Staggies chief executive Steven Ferguson said: 'Everyone at the club is determined to put us in the best position possible to gain promotion back into the Premiership – and to do so within a season. 'Bringing John in to support Don, will allow us to reshape the playing squad and turn things around as quickly as possible.'
The Herald Scotland
02-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Hearts legend Robertson returns to dugout as Ross County back Cowie
County dropped out of the Scottish Premiership after the play-off final defeat to Livingston but bosses will stand by Cowie next season. Carl Tremarco and Paul Cowie will leave the club in the summer with Robertson joining as No2 to Cowie to help push for an immediate return to the top-flight. Robertson previously worked with Don and has experience coaching in the Championship, he was most recently manager of Inverness between 2017 and 2021 and served as interim in 2023. Chief executive officer Steve Ferguson said: "Everyone at the club is determined to put us in the best position possible to gain promotion back into the Premiership - and to do so within a season. "Bringing John in to support Don, will allow us to reshape the playing squad and turn things around as quickly as possible' Read more: A club statement read: "Last week's result against Livingston - resulting in us playing in the Championship next season - has left everyone at the club, personally and collectively, hugely disappointed. We know how much playing Premiership football matters to our community, and we share their deep frustration at how the season concluded. "As you might imagine, we have done a lot of soul searching at the club over the last week, and following that, have decided to restructure our football management team under Don Cowie as we make gaining immediate promotion our sole focus. "We believe strongly that we have a dedicated and talented manager in Don and that he is the right man to lead us for the season ahead. "To support Don, we have appointed the experienced John Robertson as assistant manager with immediate effect. Carl Tremarco and Paul Cowie will leave the club, and we thank them for their efforts and wish them well for the future. "John has more than 400 games under his belt as a manager, knows the challenge of recruiting from our base in the Highlands, has experience of the Scottish Championship, and has worked with Don in the past. He already knows the club well and has spent much of last season watching from the sidelines in his role as a BBC pundit."
