PAUL HARTLEY admits he has been re-energised by his stint at Cove Rangers as he prepares for the biggest game in the club's history at Ibrox this weekend.

The former Scotland midfielder was appointed as manager at the Balmoral Stadium in July 2019 as he succeeded John Sheran in the dugout following spells in charge of Alloa, Dundee and Falkirk.

Cove have their sights set on promotion from League One this term but it is a Scottish Cup shock that is their top priority on Sunday as they bid to overcome Premiership champions Rangers.

The Toonsers are a club on the rise following their step up from the Highland League and Hartley is relishing the chance to be an integral part of the ambitious project as Cove look to progress through the SPFL ranks.

Hartley said: “I enjoy my football, my lifestyle, where I stay and the big thing for me is I enjoy working with the chairman. He has been a breath of fresh air.

“I took a couple of beatings which is part and parcel when you lose your job. You know there is a possibility you can lose your job.

“If you lose it once you hope you can get back in, if you lose it twice sometimes it can be really difficult to get back in as you are forgotten about.

“I have got the opportunity here and the chairman is really ambitious. It has been a breath of fresh air to enjoy it again and I love working with this group of players.

“We are ambitious to be full-time. Hopefully we can get that in the next year or so where we have a hybrid model with a group of young players that want to be full-time and we can give them that opportunity.”