Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Harper Rovers exit amid pay cut talks
MARK PIRIE
Former boss Kevin Harper has revealed that he walked away from Albion Rovers after being offered a pay-cut.
The Cliftonhill side announced last week that Harper had knocked back a contract offer to stay in Coatbridge for the new campaign.
Harper had steered the club to a miraculous escape from the relegation play- off last season dubbed ‘ The Greatest Escape’ after avoiding the dreaded League Two play-off spot.
The club were seven points ahead of rock-bottom Brechin in ninth before the season was axed.
The outgoing gaffer insisted there was no bad blood between him or the club.
He told the Advertiser: “There was talk about the budget and I didn’t feel like the contract was right for me.
“I didn’t feel like the contract offer matched the job I have done since I took over.
“I don’t believe the board could match the ambition I had for the club; in fact it ended up that I was offered less than I was on last season.
“I feel like the job I did deserved better, and I appreciate that the club have to look after themselves during these times.
“At the end of the day a contract was put on the table and I knocked it back. I won’t be the first manager to do that or the last.”
He believes there has been clear improvement in the side during his tenure.
“When I look back at the my two seasons at the club we improved in the stats in every department,” he continued.
“Goals, clean sheets, points per game and overall we were more than competitive.
“In every avenue we are better off than we were when I took over in my belief, even though we didn’t climb the league how I would have wanted.
“I’m very proud that we managed to save the club, and when you look at where Berwick are now it really was saving the club. I wanted to make sure the club were better off when I left then when I had taken over and I feel I have done that.”
With Rovers’ now looking for a new boss, it is understood Harper’s assistant Joe McLaughlin will be considered for the hot seat after the “were unable to agree mutually acceptable terms.”
The statement read: “The board would like to place on record our sincere thanks for Kevin’s hardwork, dedication and commitment to the club, particularly ensuring the retention of our league status.”