Fox and Dair sound like a 1970's cop show double act but manager and assistant manager respectively will know it is all about reality when they take charge of relegated Cowdenbeath FC in League 2 in the new season. Liam Fox is an ex-Hearts player who was Under 17 coach at Tynecastle until recently while Jason Dair is the local boy made good with stints as a player at the three Fife League clubs outside Cowden plus Millwall, Motherwell and Livingston. Jambo replaced Hibby this week at Central Park after Colin Nish's departure but can Fox measure up to the best of Cowdenbeath's post-war managers?
Here's the Top 5 according to your Cowden correspondent.
1.Andy Matthew 1968-1974
The former flying winger at all four Fife League clubs took Cowdenbeath to their first promotion in 31 years in 1969/70 and steered the club then nicknamed "The Miners" in their last season in the Scottish top flight (old First Division of 18 teams) as well as guiding them to the League Cup semi final in 1970 (lost 2-0 to eventual winners Rangers). Relegation after just one season hosting the likes of the Old Firm, Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen was partly down to the fact Cowden were then the only part time team in the top division but there were two near misses as the club tried to bounce back in 1971/2 and 1972/3. Matthew resigned at the start of the 1974/5 season after a 13th place finish in 1973/4 in Division 2 but his replacement Bert Paton (later Pars manager) only lasted 28 days before a procession of managers attempted to recreate Matthew's success unsuccessfully. Matthew moved onto become a Raith Rovers director while continuing to manage his coal merchant business.
2.Mixu Paatelinen 2005-2006
Still a cult figure at Cowdenbeath and was the choice of many Blue Brazilians to return after Colin Nish left. These days Mixu has his eyes on a bigger prize but took the club up in his one and only season as Cowdenbeath manager while fielding two of his brothers in the team. The football was good and the Icelander brought a decent crowd back to Central Park so for one season only even Mum wasn't going to Iceland ahead of watching Cowden on a Saturday afternoon!
3.Danny Lennon 2008-2010
Lennon was appointed as Cowden manager in 2008, replacing former Hibby Brian Welsh. Lennon managed the Fife side to two successive promotions despite the club being in significant financial trouble. Lennon was appointed manager of SPL side St Mirren on 7th June 2010, signing a two-year contract. Lennon picked up his first win for St Mirren with a 1–0 win over Hibs, courtesy of a goal from Craig Dargo. The Buddies finished the season in 11th place, just managing to avoid relegation. However, Lennon took Saints to League Cup glory with a win in the final at Hampden in season 2012/13.
4.Frank Connor 1975-1977
A former Celtic goalie who looked like Ian Paisley and made Fergie's "Hairdryer" sound like a Librarian he was one of those old school character managers of the time who trained them hard and shot from the lip. Connor ended up back in goal at 40 in 1976 after the club's two goalies were both injured and he failed to sign a replacement on the morning of a match at Alloa . The Wasps won 4-0 and Connor was subsequently injured in the second half having not played between the sticks for years but that only helped his cult status at Cowdenbeath. His most notable win at Central Park was a 3-0 Scottish Cup Third Round vanquishing of Alex Ferguson's St Mirren, then second in Division 1 and eventually promoted, with Cowdenbeath mid-table in Division 2. The 4th Round saw Cowden gain a 1-1 draw at Premier League Partick Thistle with the Jags equaliser coming seven minutes into Injury Time (they won the replay 1-0 at Central Park). A last minute equaliser for his team at Dunfermline in a league derby saw Connor sprint onto the field to celebrate and fall flat on his face, his white trench coat muddied from top to bottom, but there was never a dull moment with the future Celtic assistant coach in charge! Probably managed the best Cowden team never to get promotion.
5. Andy Rolland 1980-1982
The former Cowdenbeath and Dundee Utd full back got Fife rivals Dunfermline Athletic promoted before becoming Cowden manager in the wake of Pat Stanton leaving after a short spell at Central Park to take over at the Pars and Rolland put together a good side at Cowden FC. The Player Manager missed his only penalty in his senior career on the last day of the 1980/81 season at Central Park as Champions Queens Park denied a home side who only needed a draw for promotion to the middle tier by two goals to one. Rolland later said he would have given up his promotion with the Pars to have scored that spot kick and get his home town team promoted instead.