A point was enough to save Cowdenbeath's 2nd Division place this season as they drew 0-0 at home with Stranraer on Saturday. Ex-Dundee Utd player Brian Welsh, who took over from Mixu Paatelainen in the early part of the campaign, has kept last season's Third Division champs from falling back to the basement, their usual trajectory after promotion.
There were fears the former Central Park youth coach could not fill Mixu's boots after the former Finland international went home to manage TPS Turku. There were calls of nepotism locally as Welsh is the son-in-law of Cowden chairman Gordon McDougall. Billy Dodds and Terry Christie were preferred candidates amongst the majority of the small but loyal support in Central Fife before Welsh got the nod.
In recent weeks Welsh has steadied the ship and decisive wins over Ayr, Forfar and Stranraer (a 6-1 away win) were key games as the Blue Brazil climbed away from near the play-off spot now destined for Stranraer or Alloa.
The 'Raer gave themselves hope of escape with an unexpected draw at the weekend but 'Beath fans had more to celebrate as Welsh made a bit of history as only the second Cowden boss since the early 1930's to keep the side up beyond one season.
1938/9: Second Division Champions in a two division set up but after only six games in the top league WW 2 breaks out and official play is suspended. After hostilities cease the promotion is deemed null and void. Cue 31 years in the basement division.
1970/1: After promotion as runners-up to Falkirk in the old two division Scottish League set-up in 1969/70 Cowdenbeath are the only part-time side in the 18 team top league but come straight back down with only 17 points from 34 games. The Fifers finish bottom while St Mirren are relegated with them. Manager for both campaigns was Andy Matthew
1992/3: Runners-up again in 1991/2 in Div 2. This time a three league set-up sees Cowdenbeath in Div 1 and one step from the big time after promotion but ex-Hibs defender John Brownlie is sacked before the start of the Div 1 campaign after a bust-up with Chairman McDougall over cash for new players and ex-player Andy Harrow fails to keep the Fifers up. They again finish bottom going on a record run of league defeats.
2000/1: Runners-up in Div 3 Cowdenbeath manage two seasons in the Second Division after promotion before being relegated again in 2003. Craig Levein leaves for the Hearts hot-seat just weeks before promotion is achieved and assistant Gary Kirk finishes off the job of getting Cowden out of the basement.
