Makel will be using his Hearts contacts as he seeks to lift Blue Brazil

"Colin and myself still have good connections at Hearts. I still go into the training ground to see Billy, Jim and Lockie. Jim lives down in Lauder which is where I live, so I'll be round his house wanting players from him," laughed Makel. "To be honest, I wouldn't say yes or no to that possibility right now, but we are well connected there.

"I'm sure Colin will speak to Jim and Billy. In the meantime, we'll concentrate on what we've got and look at the areas that need strengthened. I'm sure if we're looking for a player, the Hearts management team would help us out."

Cowdenbeath will not be totally bereft of experience for the season ahead, as Cameron and Makel will both register as players in addition to their managerial roles. Their presence adds a tint of Tynecastle maroon to a club not short on Hearts links, with defender John Armstrong a product of the Riccarton youth academy. They even have a Jon Robertson in their ranks.

"Both myself and Colin do want to do well in our coaching careers but we don't want to think too far ahead. We have a job to do for Cowdenbeath," acknowledged Makel.

"It's Colin's first managerial job so hopefully we can kick on and be a success there. We want to give everything to the club because it's them who gave us the opportunity to do this. Who knows what will happen after that.

"It is very difficult from a financial point of view for clubs like ourselves but the upside is the number of players out there at the minute. Everyone has to cut their cloth and Cowdenbeath are no different. We've been relegated and our budget has been cut. There's a massive pool of players out there who are just itching to play.

"One article I read recently said players are better off playing part-time at the moment and I can well believe that with some of the wages at some First Division teams."

The surroundings at Central Park certainly pale in comparison to Makel's last managerial job with the Swedish side Ostersunds FK, a fourth-tier outfit based in the central region of Jamtland. The club's 5000 capacity Jamtkraft Arena was constructed in 2007 and is a purpose-built sports complex. No tarmac motor track, no mesh fencing, no crumbling terrace.

Makel was player-manager of Ostersunds until October last year and admits to enjoying the serenity of football in Scandinavia. Now he is back in the "nittee grittee", as he says in that Geordie accent.

"I think that's one of the main reasons Colin asked me to come on board. He's a rookie manager, whereas I was in Sweden for 18 months. So far it's completely different in terms of dealing with agents and the amount of players available. I'll give him my advice and I think the experiences I've had over in Sweden have helped with his decisions. Hopefully we can rub off on each other.

"It was a good learning curve for me in Sweden, being away from the pressure of football here and learning a bit of the trade. But I'm keen to get going over here now and Colin has given me the opportunity. We have been keeping in touch via text and email because Colin was on holiday last week. There are a lot of players out there to pick from.

"We've identified the areas we want to strengthen but we're still waiting on some boys already in our team to come back with a yes or no for next year. From speaking to Colin, the majority of them want to be part of the next campaign."

The allure of playing and training alongside players of the calibre of Cameron and Makel should not be overlooked. Both featured last season but could not prevent Cowdenbeath's relegation. Now they are entrusted with the task of effecting a resurgence and restoring First Division football.

For Makel, the chance to continue playing was not something he expected after returning from Sweden last autumn. "The season finished and, to tell you the truth, I was thinking of just packing playing in altogether and concentrating on coaching. But I missed playing," he explained.

"I was playing regularly in Sweden so I phoned Colin up and asked if Jimmy Nicholl (then-Cowdenbeath manager) fancied letting me come along to training and see how I go. I played there till the end of the season and we were unfortunate to get relegated.

"Colin and I are both registered as players for next season. We won't both play at the same time, but we can see how it goes. I'm really looking forward to the challenge. At least I can drive half an hour or 40 minutes to go and watch a match if I'm scouting different teams or potential signing targets. Over in Sweden, because I was up towards the north, it was a six or seven-hour drive sometimes to watch games. You don't realise how big a country it is till you're out there."

Scotland may be smaller, but the job facing Cameron and Makel is a sizeable one. Perhaps it would be worth dropping in at the Jefferies residence.