A footballer-turned-podcast star has been named as manager of a lower-league Scottish team as part of a bold revamp.
Simon Ferry, who founded the popular Open Goal podcast series, has launched a partnership with Lowland League outfit Broomhill. The venture will see the team rebranded as Open Goal Broomhill FC with the arrangement promising to "provide unprecedented mass exposure to the Scottish Lowland League ".
A press release confirming the news said a variety of club content would be created and distributed through Open Goal with plans for a monthly fly-on-the-wall documentary as the club aims for future promotion into the SPFL. Ferry, 34, played for the likes of Swindon Town, Portsmouth and Dundee before achieving success with the podcast series in recent years. His last playing role was at Peterhead.
He is now set to turn his hand to management as boss of Broomhill, who finished 15th in the 18-team Lowland League. The winners of the division face off against the Highland League champions with the winning side then taking on the team which finished bottom of Scottish League Two for a place in the SPFL.
Speaking at his unveiling, Ferry said: “Firstly, I would like to thank Jim McInally and the Peterhead Board for seven fantastic years at the club as a player and coach and for being so supportive in my decision to take on this next step in my coaching career. I am absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to take on my first management role in football as it’s been an ambition of mine for some years now.
“Being able to take this first step with Open Goal involved makes the prospect all the more exciting with it being part of this amazing and unique project. We hope the phenomenal Open Goal fans get right behind the side and turn out in their numbers for each of our home games as the support will be vital in our pursuit for success. There will be some fantastic online content to enjoy but first and foremost, my role here is purely focused on assembling a winning team on the park with the aim to bring silverware and hopefully promotion to the club.”
Broomhill - previously known as BSC Glasgow - were elected to the Scottish Lowland Football League back in 2015. Open Goal's popular series of podcasts include regular host Andy Halliday of Hearts, whilst in the past they have carried out interviews with former Celtic players such as Thomas Gravesen and Paolo di Canio and ex-Rangers' stars Ally McCoist and Kyle Lafferty.
Broomhill FC’s General Manager, George Fraser said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Open Goal, their vision for the club matches our own ambitions and we see it as the perfect partnership. We have always been a club that does things differently and the chance to provide a platform for the team going forward, both on the park and off the park, is one that we couldn’t pass up."
