OUTGOING Kelty Hearts boss John Potter hopes they will enjoy a successful new era after he completed a move to Raith Rovers.

The former Pars player, coach and manager has departed New Central Park, following the conclusion of their League One campaign, to take up the role of technical director at Stark’s Park.

Press Sport recently revealed that the 43-year-old would be heading for Kirkcaldy, following the acquirement of a controlling stake in the club by a consortium including Dean McKenzie and Andrew Barrowman, who vacated their positions as managing director and general manager, and sporting director, respectively at Kelty.

Potter was confirmed by Rovers last Friday with Kelty, who announced last month his departure, alongside those of McKenzie and Barrowman, when the campaign ended, handing the reins to current captain, Michael Tidser.

Stefan Winiarski and Craig Reynolds, who have worked with Kelty Hearts Community Club, will replace McKenzie and Barrowman, and Potter hopes they will be a success after consolidating the ‘Maroon Machine’ in the third tier in their maiden season following promotion.

“It will be a transition, but they’ll move on. It’ll be a bit of a new era, a bit of a new team, and hopefully it’s a successful one,” Potter exclusively told Press Sport.

“I speak to Michael most days. He phones me about bits and pieces; there will be players leaving, there will be players coming and going, and he knows that. He knows there’s a big change coming, but he’s looking forward to it.

“I know he’s spoken to a lot of staff, a lot of different players, and I’m here to help him as much as I can.

“I enjoyed the club, I enjoyed the people there. It was probably a wee bit of transition for the club – some players were getting ready to move on, some players getting older – so I managed to see it through that. The club stayed in the league, and hopefully it can go on and be successful.

“Did we want to be more successful? Yeah. Did we want to win more games? Yes. But the most important thing was staying in the league.

“We had a period during the season where we were going well; we just didn’t get a few breaks at certain times. I think we all could’ve done a little bit better.”

Whilst he leaves behind one club set for new beginnings, Potter has joined one set for the same.

His role with Rovers, who will compete against Dunfermline next season, will be to support their manager, Ian Murray, in relation to “the football side of the club, in terms of your physio, your performance side, analysis, helping the manager as much as I can”.

“It’s basically bringing all the different departments of the football club together, making it as good as it can,” he added.

“It’s for the club; it’s not for an individual, so the structure will be there. It won’t move – people will move within it, and players will move within it – but the structure will be there.

“You try and make that as best as you can, be as organised as you can, and hopefully can be successful.”