PETER Cormack's time in charge of third division Cowdenbeath was short, not very sweet, and looks likely to be the basis of a Trivial Pursuit question in years to come.
After all, not many managers can claim they were sacked from their job without even taking charge of a game.
That unfortunate situation happened to Cormack, who won the UEFA Cup as a player with Liverpool and has more than 10 years managerial experience under his belt, but still ended up being sacked as manager of the Fife club after only 10 days.
In fact, when he was appointed to take charge of the third division league leaders after Craig Levein left for Hearts, he looked a very good appointment.
However, at a burger bar near the Forth Road Bridge, after taking only a few training sessions, he was told by club officials they wanted him out. He hadn't even got round to signing a contract and said last night he had taken the job in good faith and believed he would be staying for two seasons at least.
As it turned out, he was shown the door by Gordon McDougall, the Cowdenbeath chairman, who said he could not comment on the matter for legal reasons. However, other club sources said the reason was that Cormack ''tried to change too much, too soon''.
That will cut little ice with Cormack, who admitted he was trying to better things at the club and had already drawn up links with his former team Liverpool, as well as Manchester City, to try to allow some young players from Cowdenbeath to go down for much-needed experience.
Cormack claims a small number of players, led by the now caretaker coach, Gary Kirk, had put pressure on the chairman to get rid of him.
''I've been made to look a fool,'' said Cormack. ''While I was away watching a game, a football equivalent of a coup d'etat took place and I'm at a loss how they can justify getting rid of me.''
Kirk, who was assistant mana-ger under Levein, said it was ''rubbish'' to suggest he had been behind any dressing-room revolt to get rid of Cormack.
He also dismissed suggestions that the Cowdenbeath players were considering strike action following the decision by the board to get rid of him after only 10 days in charge.
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