Former Hibs winger Kevin Harper quits as Albion Rovers manager after being offered less money to stay

The 44-year-old kept club in League Two against the odds
Albion Rovers manager Kevin Harper is awarded the Ladbrokes League Two Manager of the Month award for March, 2019Albion Rovers manager Kevin Harper is awarded the Ladbrokes League Two Manager of the Month award for March, 2019
Albion Rovers manager Kevin Harper is awarded the Ladbrokes League Two Manager of the Month award for March, 2019

Former Hibs winger Kevin Harper has quit his post at Albion Rovers after revealing he was offered reduced terms to stay.

The Cliftonhill boss, who played 116 times for the Easter Road side and is best remembered for a stunning derby winner against Hearts in April 1998, knocked back a contract offer to remain with the League Two side, claiming the club failed to match his own ambitions.

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Rovers were ninth in the table, seven points ahead of bottom placed Brechin, before the season was cut short due to coronavirus.

"There was talk about the budget and I didn’t feel like the contract was right for me," Harper told Lanarkshire Live Sport.

“I didn’t feel like the contract offer matched the job I have done since I took over.

“I don’t believe the board could match the ambition I had for the club; in fact it ended up that I was offered less than I was on last season.

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“I feel like the job I did deserved better, and I appreciate that the club have to look after themselves during these times.

“At the end of the day a contract was put on the table and I knocked it back. I won’t be the first manager to do that or the last.”

In his first job in management, Harper, who scored 18 times in six years at Easter Road before making a £300,000 move to Derby County in 1998, steered the Cliftonhill outfit away from the dreaded demotion last season.

His team were rooted to the bottom of League Two around Christmas, but overhauled a seven point gap to Berwick Rangers, who were ultimately relegated to the Lowland League after losing the pyramid play-off to Cove Rangers.

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“When I look back at my two seasons at the club we improved in the stats in every department,” Harper added.

“In every avenue we are better off than we were when I took over in my belief, even though we didn’t climb the league how I would have wanted.

“I’m very proud that we managed to save the club, and when you look at where Berwick are now it really was saving the club.

"I wanted to make sure the club were better off when I left then when I had taken over and I feel I have done that.”

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In a statement confirming the 44-year-old's departure, Rovers said: “The board would like to place on record our sincere thanks for Kevin’s hard-work, dedication and commitment to the club, particularly ensuring the retention of our league status.”