Don Cowie reveals Hearts spell convinced him to take Ross County coaching role - and his thoughts on current situation at Tynecastle

Midfielder has his say on Tynecastle club’s slide since he left

Don Cowie has retired to become a first-team coach at Ross County.

Don Cowie played under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Brendan Rodgers, Uwe Rosler and Sean Dyche in England. He also earned ten international caps for Scotland. His experience is vast but only at Hearts did he properly cement his coaching ambitions.

Cowie helped nurture many Riccarton youth academy pupils during two and a half years in Edinburgh, which ended when he rejoined formative club Ross County in 2018. Now 37, the midfielder announced his retirement from playing this week.

He moves into a first-team coaching role as part of a Dingwall restructure which sees Stuart Kettlewell named manager in his own right. He is assisted by Richard Brittain with Cowie third in command. Steven Ferguson, previously co-manager with Kettlewell, is now chief executive.

The period at Tynecastle Park was pivotal in Cowie’s decision to accept a coaching role. Hearts teenagers played more first-team minutes than at any other top-flight European club during season 2017/18. They amassed 4,826 minutes on the pitch in total as senior players became their father figures.

Kids including Harry Cochrane, Lewis Moore, Euan Henderson and Anthony McDonald thrived thanks to guidance from a group of knowledgeable figureheads including Cowie, Steven Naismith, Aaron Hughes and Christophe Berra. The whole experience convinced the Highlander that coaching was a natural step after playing.

"Hearts had a lot of young players when I got there," he told the Evening News. "Given my age, you almost naturally become a coach to them on the pitch. You are giving advice and it was well-documented how many young kids were coming through then.

"It was a real privilege to play alongside them. That gave me the enthusiasm and fire in my belly to try to inspire them and set standards on things like how to conduct yourself. I really thrived in that role.

"I loved being there at that time, although I wish the results had been better and we had achieved more. I thought I wanted to be a coach but once I went to Hearts that nailed it for me. I realised then that it was what I wanted to do."

The time has now arrived. For the first time in 21 years, Cowie is not taking part in pre-season training. County restarted yesterday under the tutelage of their new coaching set-up following the Covid 19 shutdown. Working with the club’s under-18 squad for the last 15 months helped Cowie prepare.

He will be frustrated if league reconstruction fails and he does not get to visit Tynecastle again next season. "I'd be disappointed about that. I had two and a half terrific years there. I realised how big a club Hearts are in that time. I made some wonderful friends and I loved playing there. I'm disappointed at how things went last season.

"The only hope is that, if they start in the Championship next season, they are back in the Premiership in 12 months' time. That's where they belong. The league table suggests not because of results but I've said numerous times in interviews that Hearts have so much going for them as a club.

"There is obviously something which hasn't been quite right. Once that is right, they will really flourish."

Helping others flourish is now his primary objective. The names he has worked with are the envy of many a British footballer thanks to spells at Watford, Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic. Cowie has built his own philosophy on coaching methods.

"I've worked under some incredible people. I've got so much experience from different characters,” he said. “You don't try to copy anyone but you do learn from certain scenarios. One area I think is massive is the relationship with players. They respect you if you are honest with them and try to help.

"You need to be close so they can speak to you, but at the same time they respect you and they know who is in charge. I think that's key. I look forward to being the middle man between management and players.”

Relinquishing the playing role was a wrench, particularly after fighting tenaciously to return after nine months out with a knee injury. He resumed playing in January.

“When Stuart asked me if I wanted to coach, I had a decision to make because I'd got back playing after being out all that time. I loved that. I hung in for those nine months for that feeling of being back on the pitch,” said Cowie.

"I weighed everything up. I asked what would happen if I said no to the coaching role. Would they still see me as part of the team? The reply was: 'Well you were out for nine months and got back in the team after only two weeks training. That answers your question.'

"So I had the option to keep playing. I was under contract for another season, but I just felt it was the right time. I've had a great run in full-time football for 20 years. I've probably maximised my body. I just felt this was right.

"I also took into consideration the fact that football won't be what we know it to be. It won't be the norm for a while. We were back training yesterday so I know what measures we have had to take. There is social distancing, arriving in your car alone, going straight from car to training pitch, then going home.

"For a 37-year-old, it's not the greatest preparation because I would normally go to the gym or have a massage before training. Players just won't have that at their disposal for now.

"To go straight from playing into a first-team role also was a factor. The results mean something because you are playing for points. I want to be part of that adrenaline and help the players as well.

"It will be different. People who were close friends, suddenly I'm coaching them. I want to be a link between players and management. I tried to give advice whenever I felt necessary anyway so hopefully there is not too much change.”

The obvious question now is whether he sees coaching leading to management in future. "I won't pretend it isn't something I'd love to do. Just now, I need to just focus on coaching men,” explained Cowie.

“I've worked with Ross County Under-18s and thoroughly enjoyed it. They are sponges at that age and would do anything I asked because I was a first-team player.

"Grown men have their own personalities and might have a stronger character. That's what you have to adapt to. Maybe management will be something for me in years to come but, for now, I'm getting used to coaching senior professionals.”

A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper. Our journalists are highly-trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper. Thank you. Joy Yates, Editorial Director.