ROSYTH have placed coaches Barry Cockburn and Kevin Smith in charge after manager Lee Richardson left to join Dundonald Bluebell.

Richardson has ended a three-and-a-half year stint in charge at Recreation Park to move to the newly promoted Super League outfit as assistant manager to Stevie Kay, who has been handed the Moorside Park vacancy after leaving his role as Thomas Courts' number two at Kelty Hearts.

Rosyth assistant John Steel has also departed to join Bluebell's new-look management team that sees Richardson link up again with Kay after previously working together at clubs including Oakley United and Ballingry Rovers.

Richardson, who took over at Rosyth in 2013, admitted that it was a "wrench" to leave but said uncertainty over the club's proposed move to the Fleet Grounds – as well as the chance to work with Kay – played a part in his decision.

He told Press Sport: "It came out of the blue to be honest. Stevie phoned me on Saturday night and said he'd been asked for an interview, and I told him that he had to go for it. He asked if he got the job, would me and Steely (Steel) come with him? I said that I had to think about it; I phoned Steely and he said I'll go where you go. I thought about it all night and told Stevie that if he got the job I'd have to really think about it. When he did, I spoke with the wife but it was a really hard decision to make. Rosyth are a great club; I've been there for three and a half years and I've really enjoyed it, and had this opportunity not come up then I'd have still been there.

"I hope that they will go places but the Fleet Grounds thing with the council has dragged on and has got me down a couple of times. I'm trying to sell the club to players but I'm having to tell them that we might be playing here or we might be playing there. Rosyth have bent over backwards to try and sort it and there are a lot of hardworking people there.

"I'm going to Dundonald as assistant manager and all I need to concentrate on now is the coaching side. I'm looking forward to working at a higher level and being back with my pal, who I started coaching with at Burntisland Shipyard. It was maybe time for me to move on."

Richardson added: "I think I've left Rosyth in a stronger position than when I first took over. It was a wrench to move but everyone on the committee has wished me well, so it's great I've left on good terms.

"I'm happy the club have left it in the hands of Barry and Kevin; they're young, enthusiastic coaches and good lads. The players like them so I think they're in good hands."

Under Richardson, Rosyth finished third and narrowly missed out on promotion from the South Division in season 2014-2015 before finishing sixth last term.