Cooper opts to stay at Peterhead

Cooper's side finished fifth in Division Two this season

Neale Cooper has agreed to take the Peterhead manager's job permanently after a successful spell as caretaker.

Cooper, who had been assistant, took charge after the departure of Steve Paterson in January and has had fresh talks with chairman Rodger Morrison.

"Rodger asked last week if I'd like to stay on as manager for the next two years and I was delighted to accept," Cooper told the club website.

Peterhead just missed out on qualifying for a promotion play-off.

And Cooper, who has yet to put pen to paper on his own new deal, is to hold talks with five first-team players whose contracts end later this month.

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Striker Andy Bagshaw and midfielders Stuart Soane and Dean Cowie are under 23 and the club would be due compensation if they were to move on.

Stuart Anderson and defender Iain Good are older and free to move on.

Meanwhile, former Aberdeen midfielder Cooper is holding talks with a number of players and hopes to sign three youngsters released by the Pittodrie club.