Cobh Ramblers targeting promotion in 2026 under new ownership model Digital Athlete Ventures

New Cobh Ramblers owner Ilya Movshovich has his eyes set on promotion as his vision for the club comes together after taking control just five months ago.

The US-based investor acquired the League of Ireland side last August through Digital Athlete Ventures, following a flirt with administration in East Cork brought on by the collapse of FC32 at the midway point of the season.

The Ramblers regrouped and managed to finish second, before going out to Treaty United in the play-off semi-finals.

Movshovich immediately started building, with his first steps towards 2026 involving the appointment of Fran Rockett as manager and Conor Meade as Director of Football.

The Ramblers are already signing players that know the league – such as Garry Buckley and Dylan McGlade, while keeping the core unit intact from last year. 

The club’s new owner wants to go again in 2026 and go one better and win promotion.

“That's a target and I think that's an achievable one based on the way that we're doing it,” he talked about promotion.

There’s more to it, with Movshovich keen to build from the ground up by focusing on the people that make Cobh what it is.

“We're looking at more at the community and we talked about the community in the beginning,” he explained.

“But the problem with that is, I could only deal with what was established already. 

"I couldn't make the changes that I really wanted to make and now we are very much focused on rebuilding and building our academy.

“There’s a reason why the academy is in place. We want to be able to get the the local talent and get that into the first team. 

"That’s kind of the core [and] we want to be able to look within Ireland.” 

Movshovich has already been working towards this, through his appointments at St Colman’s Park.

The first job appointing a full-time manager after the departure of Mick McDermott following the final regular season game.

“The hope was there, right?” he talked about the Treaty games.

“Obviously, there was a managerial change at that time that took place and I don't think that affected the outcome. It was disappointing. I was watching it.

“I know that, how to leave the past in the past.

“That's exactly what we're doing.

"So, we're leaving the past in the past. We, as a result, have changed a lot of things and I think the new season is going to be really exciting and I think that's where we're at. 

"That's the focus.

“We have an amazing team that we put together. 

"We brought some of the lads back right, the ones that we wanted to be a part of the team and we're focussing on those that want to be here.

“As a result we brought in Fran, who is absolutely amazing and everybody is excited to have to have him back and Conor is great as well. 

"So, it is that balance. I look at myself and I'm the ownership side and it's a team effort. 

"That goes from the board and that goes to the pitch. I think it's going really well the way that we're outlining and the way that we're designing everything. 

"Like I said, Conor and Fran, you couldn't ask for a better team. That’s the way that we're working, the way that we're collaborating on everything.” 

Now is all about the ‘rebuild’ according to Movshovich and the investor has ideas for Cobh Ramblers and part of that involves tech based solutions at St Colman’s Park.

“It’s called quantum computing and what it does is that it is able to reduce injury in players,” he said.

“So by looking at the way during training and during games on the pitch, you're able to assess based on the striking and the movement for each for each player. 

"You are able to take the data and have quantum computing figure that out.

“It hasn't really been done, it's been talked about and we have a company out of Austin that we're partnering specifically with on this.

“As result of reduction in injury you’re going have them playing for way and that is going to benefit the club as well. 

"You're investing in the players because you want them to play and you are also helping them out.

“[There’s] also data. We’ve all used data, but not to replace from a coaching perspective, but you want to give. 

"You want the coach to be able to utilise that from a management standpoint. That is why it is there.”