Published: Wednesday, 25th June, 2008 09:00
Selkirk 'club in crisis'
By David Knox
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OTHER HALF: New-look Gala Fairydean line up for the new season.
SELKIRK has been thrown into a footballing crisis with the resignation of both its manager and chairman.
Fraser Lothian stepped down from the Yarrow Park hot-seat after five years last Wednesday evening.
And within 24 hours chairman Craig Douglas had also resigned as chairman.
The double blow comes just a fortnight after the club landed its first trophy in 30 years.
Both manager and chairman have sited work commitments as the reason for stepping down.
Lothian, who has been Selkirk’s most successful manager since Ian Whitehead’s reign in the 1970s, recently started a new business on top of his joinery firm.
The 50-year-old told the Border Telegraph: “I am really snowed under with work and finding the time to chase around after players was proving too much.
“My timing isn’t great but I have been seriously thinking about my future at the club for the past two or three weeks and it took all of that time for me to make up my mind.
“If I had stayed it would have only been for one more season and I’m not sure I could have found the time or commitment to be successful.”
Lothian’s assistant over the past five seasons, Ally McCulloch, indicated several weeks ago that he was intending standing down to concentrate on tennis coaching.
The former Whitehill Welfare player is one of the most highly respected tennis coaches in the region.
Lothian added: “Ally will be doing his own thing while I just want to take a break from football for a while.
“I know I will miss it and once my new business settles down I’ll be itching to get back. If a decent offer comes in I could be back sooner than you think.”
Bickering between the club’s committee over the team’s relegation and moves for the introduction of a new management team led to a summit at Yarrow Park last month where Lothian was given an overwhelming vote of support.
Chairman Craig Douglas, who is in the Far East on business, has been involved with Selkirk for almost a decade.
And the behind-the-scenes squabbles are also believed to have influenced his decision to stand down. From Singapore he told us: “I would like to think that I have certainly done my bit over the years by helping the club move to Yarrow Park.
“With my business now winning more and more work in the Far East and my daughter going to university and hopefully son following suit it is time for me to concentrate on my business and family, and to get away from football.”
Star striker Craig Livingstone has also left Yarrow Park after five years.
The 21-year-old signed for junior side Dunbar last week, but Yarrow Park coaches Paul Brownlee, Ian Potts and Jason Cockburn believe the rest of last season’s squad will stay.
Cockburn said: “We are all gutted about Fraser leaving but we want to remain positive and we have received an encouraging response from the players.
“We have spoken to almost every one of them and they will stay next season.
“We will look at all the names who come forward for the job but Paul will look after the team just now.”
The vacant manager’s position will be advertised over the coming weeks but Gala Fairydean coach Mark Lamb, who was previously linked with the job, has ruled himself out.
And former Leithen Rovers boss Alan Notman has also turned down the opportunity to lead the Yarrow Park side. Notman said: “Selkirk’s a big club and I would have loved to take the job but the timing is all wrong. I’m about to go on holiday and by the time I come back almost every available player will be signed up by other clubs.
“They have the basis of a pretty good side already down there but I would have wanted to bring in a few new faces with me.
“I’m sure I’ll be kicking myself in a few weeks.”
A meeting will take place tonight (Wednesday) at Yarrow Park to discuss a new manager.
editorial@bordertelegraph.com
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Coach calls for Gala repeat