NEW SIGNINGS SPOTLIGHT

In last week’s programme, we highlighted Paul Hartley’s first four signings of the close season transfer window: Kyle Connell, Luke Strachan, Will Gillingham and Arron Darge.

Tonight we are putting the spotlight on the next quartet through the door at Balmoral Stadium: Rumarn Burrell, Mouhamed Niang, Mark Gallagher and Nick Suman.

Striker Rumarn is twenty-two and was most recently with Falkirk, where he scored twelve goals in just twenty starts last season.

The Englishman turned professional with Grimsby Town in 2019 and had a short loan spell with Kilmarnock before arriving at Falkirk Stadium last summer.

He has agreed a one-year deal, and says he is excited to be part of what will be a new-look Cove Rangers for the coming campaign:

“I can’t wait to get started. Obviously, I know the division from last season, and I know I can score goals in it, so I’m hoping to be able to do that for Cove.

“I’ve had a few conversations with the manager, he’s an experienced guy and I know I can learn from him, and I just want to repay the faith he’s shown in me.

“I’ve been at some big clubs, and I’ve picked up different experiences along the way, and I definitely feel I’m ready to play my part.

“I’ve got pace, I’ve shown I can score goals, and I think I can cause problems going wide or in behind. Hopefully I can prove that when the season gets underway.”

Paul Hartley is delighted to have landed the hitman, and feels he can make a big impact in the months ahead:

“He’s hungry to succeed, he’s young, enthusiastic and full of energy. He’s fast and he’ll stretch teams with his runs in behind. I’m hoping he’ll come here and have a really productive season.

“The main thing is finding the back of the net, and I fully expect him to do that. He’s at a good age and I see no reason why he won’t make a big contribution.”

Twenty-three year old Mouhamed Niang, known as ‘Sena’, began his SPFL career with Partick Thistle in 2018, and after a loan spell with Montrose, played a major role as Thistle won promotion to the Championship in 2020.

Mouhamed was then loaned out to Alloa Athletic for the following campaign, featuring in more than thirty games. He signed for Hartlepool United last summer and will now be reunited with manager Paul Hartley at Balmoral Stadium.

Paul says ‘Sena’ enhances his midfield options, and will add strength to that part of the team:

“He’s competitive, he can operate in a couple of different positions, can fill in at the back if we need him there, but primarily he’ll be used at the heart of the team. He’s an aggressive player, which I like, and he also keeps it simple. He knows how to play the position.

“I know him pretty well, obviously I took him to Hartlepool last year, and we did try to bring him in during the January transfer window, but we just couldn’t make it happen then. I’m delighted to get him on board.

“He’s a good team-mate, the rest of the boys will enjoy having him here, and he’s a good sort, a great lad, which is important in the dressing room.”

Mouhamed has agreed a two year fulltime contract and is looking forward to the next chapter of his career:

“I’m really happy to have signed for Cove Rangers. We had been talking for a few weeks, so it was good to get everything completed.

“I know the manager, he signed me before, and to be honest that played a big part in my decision to come here; I’m really looking forward to working with him again.

“Given my past experience with Montrose, Partick Thistle and Alloa Athletic, I understand the division, I’ve picked up good experience in League One, and I believe I can do well for the club. I’ll work hard to make sure that happens.

The manager then made two signings in the space of a couple of days with midfielder Mark Gallagher the first to put pen to paper.

Now twenty-two, he came through the youth ranks at Ross County, making his debut in a Challenge Cup meeting with Hearts U20s in August 2018. Such was the impact Mark made, Aberdeen bought him in January 2020, and while he did not make the breakthrough at Pittodrie, he did enjoy productive loan spells at Forfar Athletic and Cliftonville.

Mark joined Formartine United last summer, helping the club to a 4th place finish in the Highland League, and impressed during a trial spell at Balmoral Stadium.

Now he says he’s looking forward to kicking-on with Cove Rangers:

“I’m very happy to be here. As soon as I heard there was some interest, I was keen to get it done. Playing full-time again was always my ambition, and I feel this is the perfect place to continue my development.

“Last season was definitely the best of my career. I played every week with Formartine, and I learnt a completely different side to the game. There are some very talented players in that league, and we faced tough opposition every match. It was a real test, but one I loved, and it has certainly helped me improve.”

Paul Hartley has seen that development in Mark and believes there is more to come:

“He’s a young lad, but he’s had a lot of experience already. I saw him a few years ago at Aberdeen and you could see he had talent. He’s now at a good age for us and he’s keen to do well.

“His career stalled a bit, but being at Formartine helped him to start enjoying his football again, and he does add quality to what is a strong midfield. He’ll also benefit from playing alongside some experienced boys in there.”

Forty-eight hours after announcing Mark’s capture, the club confirmed the signing of giant goalkeeper Nick Suman, also on a two-year contract.

Six foot four inch Nick played as a trialist during Connor Scully’s testimonial, and despite having only flown in from Australia a few days previously, pulled off some outstanding saves against Fraserburgh.

The manager is thrilled to have landed the highly-rated keeper:

“Nick comes highly recommended, we had a look at him and spoke to some contacts, and we were determined to get him on board.

“He has played at a good level in Australia, is a big physical presence and commands his back line well.

“We now have two really good goalkeepers at the club, and it’ll be up to Bal (Balint Demus, who has also now signed on full-time) and Nick to fight it out for the number one jersey.”

Nick sees this as a major step in his career:

“I’m ecstatic to be here! I played professionally for the past five years in the top league in Australia, and clearly it was a big step to move to Scotland, but I have confidence in my ability, and it definitely feels like the right thing for me.

“Everyone at the club has been so friendly and welcoming, and that has helped me to settle in. I’ve got to know Bal, he’s a really nice guy, and we’ll definitely be pushing each other to get better throughout the course of the season.

“I just can’t wait to show everyone what I’m all about.”

With the manager working hard to add to his squad, more new signings will be on their way, and they will be featured in forthcoming matchday programmes.

This evening’s encounter will be just the second between Cove Rangers and Livingston with both taking place in the group stages of this competition.

Having also been drawn together twelve months ago, Livi made the trip to Balmoral Stadium on July 16th 2022.

Both sides had begun with away wins over Albion Rovers, but the Premiership side had subsequently lost at home to Caley Thistle, and travelled to the north east knowing another defeat would end their hopes of qualification.

The match started well for us, Robbie Leitch and Connor Scully each coming close to opening the scoring, and it swung Cove’s way with the sending-off of Esmael Goncalves in the twentyfourth minute for a kick out at Scott Ross.

The situation looked even brighter when, on the stroke of half-time, we took a deserved lead. A corner was only partially cleared, and Iain Vigurs met the ball sweetly on the half-volley from the edge of the box, his strike flying beyond Konovalov and into the bottom corner.

David Martindale’s side rallied in the second half, and soon after the restart got back on level terms. After a scramble in the home box, they eventually bundled the ball in to the net, Obileye appearing to get the final touch.

Back came Cove and Scully, Leitch and Mitch Megginson all came agonisingly close to restoring the lead, but it was the visitors who were to snatch all three points with a last-gasp sickener.

After a fine move, Omeonga slipped in Nicky Devlin and the overlapping fullback smashed his left foot shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Livingston would go on to qualify from Group G as one of the best runners-up, while defeat in our next game, at home to Kelty Hearts, ended Cove hopes of reaching the knock-out stages for the first time.