Joe Savage joins Cowdenbeath board as former Hearts chief eyes SPFL return

Former Hearts sporting director Joe Savage has joined the board of Cowdenbeath, with the experienced football figure determined to help the Blue Brazil return to the SPFL. Savage, 42, has taken up a director role at Central Park after a career spanning recruitment, scouting and senior football operations. The former Arbroath, East Fife, Stenhousemuir and Albion Rovers forward spent almost four years at Hearts, where he played a key role in shaping the club both on and off the pitch. During his time at Tynecastle, Savage helped oversee the development of the Hearts women’s team into a full-time operation, the creation of the club’s B team and a number of significant first-team recruitment successes. Among the players brought to Hearts during his tenure were Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin, Beni Baningime, Blair Spittal and Frankie Kent, while Alan Forrest also joined the club before later moving on to Dundee. Savage left Hearts in July 2024 and subsequently established his own football consultancy business, continuing to work within the game. Now, his attention turns to Cowdenbeath. The Blue Brazil have been outside the SPFL since relegation through the League Two play-offs in 2022 brought an end to their 117-year spell in senior league football. Cowdenbeath currently compete in the Lowland League and have endured a difficult start to the current campaign, sitting 13th after six matches with one victory. However, Savage has made it clear that his ambition is to help the Central Park club build towards a return to the national leagues. Speaking after his appointment, Savage said: “It is a real honour and privilege to be joining the board of Cowdenbeath FC. “As a club I know well, I look forward to helping them achieve their ambitions of getting back into the SPFL and building something the fans and community can be proud of.” Cowdenbeath believe Savage will bring considerable football knowledge and experience to the boardroom as the club looks to rebuild and establish a route back into the SPFL. Savage recently featured on SNN Sports’ Football Voices The appointment comes shortly after Savage appeared as a guest on SNN Sports’ Football Voices podcast, where he discussed his career and experiences within Scottish football. His appearance offered listeners an insight into the world of recruitment, sporting leadership and the decision-making that goes on behind the scenes at professional clubs. Savage’s move to Cowdenbeath now gives him another opportunity to put that experience into practice, this time with a club looking to rebuild its position within the Scottish football pyramid. For the Blue Brazil, the long-term objective is clear: find a route back to the SPFL and build a sustainable future at Central Park. And with Savage now part of the board, the club has added a figure with extensive experience of football recruitment, club development and working at the highest levels of the Scottish game.