Deveronvale manager Craig Stewart's search for new assistant is over after former Inverurie Locos caretaker boss Ritchie Davidson takes up post at Princess Royal Park
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Former Inverurie Locos interim manager Richard 'Titchy' Davidson is the new assistant manager at Deveronvale.
Vale boss Craig Stewart said Davidson, who he worked with at Formartine United during his playing career, was a long-term target to fill the number two position last held by Craig Park.
"It probably goes back to when Mo (Michael Morrison) left as my assistant, as Titchy was always on my shortlist," Stewart said.
"I've been keeping an eye on how he's been getting on, even when he's been at Locos.
"He's somebody that I've got a lot of respect for. He played at a decent level in the Highland League and he was a player for me at Formartine when I was assistant to Pele (Steve Paterson).
"I had to be patient and not rush an appointment, and when things didn't quite work out for Titchy at Locos I thought I would try and see what he thought about coming here. He just fitted the bill.
"That's given me a full management team now for the first time since I've been in charge at the club."
Davidson (41) started his Highland League playing career at Locos before joining Buckie Thistle in 2005, then embarking on a stint of playing in Australia.
He rejoined Locos, worked with Stewart and Formartine then retired from playing due to injury.
Stewart will work with Davidson as well as recently appointed first team coach Colin Shirreffs and player coach Grant Noble.
"It gives me a full team, along with Mikey Grant as well, and I'm already looking forward to pre-season and moving things forward from there.
"Titchy will bring some fresh ideas to training, as will Colin, and already we've seen how good things have been on the training ground.
"You can see the boys have got a boost from them coming in so I'm delighted to make this appointment."
Stewart revealed that along with his management team, a list of transfer targets will be drawn up to try and add some experienced to a talented young squad of players.
"You've got to have that ambition and these lists need to be drawn up, so it's an ongoing thing.
"We are trying to build something at the club. From the outside, or from people who don't know about football, you don't always see there's been progress. But there has been, for a lot of reasons.
"We've got a young, young team and they are getting better and will continue to get better. But if you can add a couple of players then we will get stronger again.
"That's the challenge, adding these players to give the younger boys a helping hand."
Deveronvale didn't have a match on Saturday and next play at Rothes on Saturday.
