KEITH Cowan is looking forward to sinking his teeth into a new challenge at Irish League side Glentoran.
The Ramelton man has moved to The Oval after ending his Harps career earlier this week.
Mick McDermott moved quickly to snap up the experienced centre-back and Cowan wants to aid the Glens in returning to former glories.
“Their main goal is to get back to where they have been,” Cowan told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub as he reflected on the past and looked forward to the move..
“They’re a very successful club. It’s something that really excites me. It’s a new challenge.
“They’re one of the ‘big two’ with Linfield. It’s a great opportunity and one that I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into.”
Cowan first signed for Harps in 2004 and went on to make 241 appearances.
He said: “When I initially signed there, it was a dream come true. When Felix came in and asked me to train with guys I had watched and admired, it was a really exciting time.”
Aside from a two-season stint at Swilly Rovers, Cowan has been with Harps ever since and has captained the club.
The Ramelton man became a fans’ favourite at Finn Park. Cowan hailed the influence of Ollie Horgan, who took over at the end of the 2013 season and has taken Harps to promotion twice, an FAI Cup semi-final and Premier Division survival in two campaigns.
“Ollie was a great appointment,” Cowan said.
“He brought a steeliness. He brought a mental toughness that we were maybe missing before. We were maybe a soft touch. That could be seen by the amount of years we did stay in the First Division.
“There was a real want among the players. The time we went up in 2015, we had a real home-based team…guys who had been in the First Division and were sick and tired of being there.”
Listen to the full interview below …
