New manager has Kelty Hearts players buzzing

APPOINTMENT: Former Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson takes job

As a lifelong Rangers fan, Scott Dalziel admits he is finding it “weird” that Barry Ferguson has gone from his playing idol to his club manager.

But the striker is convinced the former Scotland skipper can now help Kelty Hearts complete their rapid rise from junior football to the SPFL.

The Lowland League outfit yesterday confirmed Ferguson as their new boss in a stunning move that will undoubtedly raise the profile of the ambitious Fifers.

The 40-year-old, who will be assisted by former Ibrox colleague Bob Malcolm, has confessed to being “blown away” by Kelty and sees the club as the perfect opportunity to return to management for the first time since leaving Clyde in February 2017.

Dalziel, the former East Fife and Cowdenbeath marksman, admits the Kelty Hearts dressing room shares the excitement Ferguson insists he has for his new club. The 32-year-old said: “The club has done brilliantly to get a big name like Barry Ferguson.

“We had heard a few whispers he was going to get the job. We didn’t really think it was going to happen but the boys are now buzzing it has been announced.

“I didn’t get to play against the new manager but as a Rangers fan I was obviously a massive fan of him. Growing up, it was the Dick Advocaat days that I watched, when he was captain and playing around massive European players, like Lorenzo Amoruso, Jorg Albertz and those kinds of players.

“So, it’s great to have him on board. After watching him for years I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s going to bring and what kind of character he is and what changes he’s going to make.

“All the boys on the WhatsApp group are buzzing and really excited. He is a hero to the boys that have been Rangers fans all their days. It will be interesting to see how many of the boys are wanting autographs. It will be weird.”

Ferguson replaces Tam Courts, who stunned the Kelty players by quitting the club last week after five years in charge. His decision came despite Hearts sitting top of the Lowland League after just one defeat from nine league games.

Dalziel admits Courts’ departure adversely affected the squad in last weekend’s South Challenge Cup defeat to East Stirlingshire.

But, with Ferguson due to take over next week after tomorrow’s Scottish Cup second-round tie away to Peterhead, he admits there is still a huge buzz around the club as they seek to follow Edinburgh City into League Two just over a year since leaving the juniors behind.

Dalziel added: “It’s been a weird couple of weeks. Tam deciding it was time to go to try a different challenge was a bit of a shock to the boys. But to go from where we’ve come from to getting Barry Ferguson in as manager is incredible.

“He’s won everything in the Scottish game and knows a good player when he sees one. I’m sure he’ll bring a lot of good stuff to the table for Kelty.”

Ferguson will be unveiled to the media next week with coaches Murray McDowell and Dave McNeely left in charge for the trip to Peterhead in a bid to avoid disrupting plans for the cup-tie.

“He’s won everything in the Scottish game and knows a good player when he sees one. I’m sure he’ll bring a lot of good stuff to the table for Kelty. SCOTT DALZIEL

Picture: SNS. Barry Ferguson has been announced as the new manager of Kelty Hearts.