Hartley has one eye on history... and one on Clyde
Cove boss relishes ‘biggest game ever’ against Rangers
PAUL HARTLEY will pick his team and prepare his players for the biggest fixture in Cove Rangers’ history when they make the trip to Ibrox on Sunday.
But it is the one to Broadwood 48 hours later that is really dominating Hartley’s thoughts and that will define his selections over the coming days.
In any normal campaign, the chance to make history against Rangers and to play in front of a bumper crowd would be the highlight of the season for Hartley and his part-time players.
These are no ordinary times, though. As Hartley counts down to what should be a day to remember, he can’t get the League One game with Clyde next week out of his mind.
Cove have played three games – against Partick Thistle, East Fife and Airdrieonians – since being given the green light to return to action. After facing Rangers in the Scottish Cup, the match with the Bully Wee is followed by the visit of Dumbarton next weekend.
It is a situation that is both strange and sad. It is one that Cove will have to deal with as their League One promotion bid takes precedence over a shot at a cup shock.
“It has been a long time because I remember when the draw was made,” Hartley said. “We are just happy that we are back playing.
“We had a 10-week period where we had no football whatsoever and then a twoweek period of trying to get back training which hasn’t been ideal.
“The challenge is to go to Rangers with a game plan to try and make it as difficult as we can.
“48 hours later we are down at Clyde. It is about trying to pick a team that will compete but will also have one eye on Tuesday, which is the most important thing for us.
“Any other normal time, you can really focus on this game. The players are looking forward to it but as a manager it is more of a challenge.
“We played on Wednesday and have had to change our training to Friday but we don’t do very much. We will pick a game plan and a team to compete on Sunday but I also have to keep another team in my head for Tuesday night because we are going to use up so much energy against a Rangers team that is flying high. Most of our play on Sunday will be out of possession.
“It is really difficult for the players having that 10-week lay-off. I have to try and pick the right team and some boys that would probably start will be on the bench and may not be used.
“I have to think who can I play on Tuesday night? We won’t get back until very late on Sunday night and lads are up for their work Monday and have to leave early on Tuesday to go to Clyde.”
The Cove story has been one of rise and rise in recent years and the former Highland League side could find themselves playing Championship football in the coming months.
Under Hartley’s guidance, Rangers have become accustomed to winning and will find themselves in the unusual position of being underdogs when they face the Premiership champions.
It should be a day to enjoy and a challenge to relish for the part-timers and Hartley will seek to make the most of it despite the unfortunate circumstances that surround the third-round fixture.
“The disappointing thing for me is there will be no fans,” he said. “And financially for the club – under normal circumstances we would have made a lot of money. But we are having to shell out a lot of money with all the protocols and the testing once a week.
“It is different [being the underdogs but it is quite good. It is different for myself and the players.
“Nobody expects us to do anything and while a lot of people have not seen us playing, we have some good players.
“It is the biggest game in the club’s history. It is a shame there are no fans there but they are on television and the platform is there.
“We are up against the best team in the country. I will just urge them to go and enjoy themselves.
“It is the next big game. Every game for me in management is big. I am looking forward to pitting my wits against Steven Gerrard.
“I don’t know him and have never faced him so hopefully I can have a five or 10-minute chat with him afterwards.”
This, of course, is not the first time that Cove have found themselves in a difficult situation this term through no fault of their own as Covid circumstances have wreaked havoc on Scottish football.
The schedule for every club in League One and Two is edging on the farcical but the games will be ticked off one by one by managers and players that are relieved to be back playing once again.
There is clear frustration here for Hartley but the players he will have to let down on Sunday will understand.
Hartley said: “What I will say is our players just want to play football. They really enjoy it and they missed it.
“They don’t really moan. The only moaning they did was asking when they could get back. Credit to the lads, it has been a funny year since we stopped last March.
“We had seven months out and then we were back for two months of training and then three months playing and then we were out for two months again. We are back playing, that’s the most important thing.”
It is the biggest game in the club’s history. It is a shame there are no fans there