Jamie Redman insists Cove Rangers will not rest on their underdog tag ahead of Saturday’s Betfred Cup opener against Peterhead.
Cove are the outsiders in the group, being the only team from League 2 and coming up against three full-time opponents.
However Redman, who returns to Balmoor having played for the Blue Toon for six years before joining Montrose in 2017. He played there for Montrose during the 2017-18 season as the Angus outfit pipped Jim McInally’s side to the League 2 title. The 32-year-old returned to his boyhood club this summer as they prepare for their SPFL bow.
Redman said: “I’ve been up a few times with Montrose so it’s not as significant as it would have been. They have a good side; there’s been a bit of change over the last two years but it’s another hard game.
“It wasn’t a personal thing; I was doing the best for the club I played for. It was incredibly difficult for us at Montrose and it will be again on Saturday.
“We want to compete in every game and take that confidence into the league games. We’re under no illusions we’ll be underdogs but we still need to perform. There’s a team to be picked in the Betfred Cup – everyone will want to be in that team to face Edinburgh City. It will be the final touches on match-fitness but we need performances. We’re not there to make up the numbers.”
To date, Redman is the only new recruit to the Cove squad following promotion. Paul McManus, Eric Watson and Jordan MacRae have departed, while Grant Campbell is recuperating from a cruciate ligament operation. Cove are believed to be interested in Airdrieonians defender Jonathan Page, who had been offered a deal earlier this summer by League 1 side Peterhead.
He said: “When I joined I was the only new face; continuity definitely helps. We’ll see what happens going forward but there’s a strong bond in that team. Continuity and familiarity is not a problem.
Redman played in the 2-1 defeat to Forfar Athletic on Tuesday night after missing the win over Montrose at the weekend. He reckons playing League 1 opposition will stand them in good stead for the start of the new campaign.
He added: “We’ll benefit from this later in the season, playing a good side like Forfar. We’ve got some hard games coming up and playing Forfar was a step up. It was a good exercise to build up fitness and while you’re disappointed to lose, there were some positive signs from us.”