GALA’S Executive Committee met last night (Tuesday) to consider a new coach for next season after George Graham and the club parted company after seven years.

The decision may not have come as a surprise to supporters in the wake of a disappointing season for the team, with the defeat at Currie leaving them with a play-off tie, possibly against Marr, to maintain their Premiership status.

In a brief statement, club President Graham Low said that it was time for a change.

However, with the play-off game and two Border League matches still to play at 15-a-side level, the sudden departure has fuelled speculation about the timing of the announcement.

“George came to us seven years ago when we got out of the Third Division. He took us nearly to winning the Premiership two years ago and also the cup,” said Low.

“Border League wins and British and Irish Cup qualifiers also followed. But performances and results have dipped a bit over the past two years and we felt that it was time for a change.”

Gala does not have a full-time replacement in place and will be looking at a temporary measure to take the club to the end of the season. It will be discussed at Executive Level in order to make a decision as quickly as possible.

“Gala has been good for George and he goes with our best wishes for the future. He was an outstanding coach, but nothing lasts forever,” Low added.

Gala was hit by injuries this season and the loss of several players – Graham’s own son Gary to Jersey, Ewan McQuillin to Melrose, and Russell Anderson south of the border.

There is further speculation that his other son, also George, will not stay on at Netherdale.

At present, former player Chris Dalgleish is the backs’ coach.

Graham, who won 25 caps for Scotland, hails from Stirling. He also was a Scotland and Borders Reivers forwards’ coach and then moved to Gala, where he was popular with the supporters.

But he says that it was the right decision of the club to ask him to stand down.

In an interview with local journalist Stuart Cameron, Graham said that he believed that the club had it possibly in its locker to ask him to step aside.

“I have to be honest, I had been thinking about it a long time prior to that (defeat at Currie).

"Regardless of the six seasons before, it is not about history, it is all about results. It is the same in any sport,” he said.

“A lot of people wondered why it (the decision) had taken so long. They (the club) wanted to make sure that it was done properly. It was made worse because of the speculation. The club did the right thing and it was finalised yesterday (Sunday) morning.

“I would have liked to have stayed on. I love Gala. It was part of my family,” he added.

The Maroons have not won the Premiership since 1982-83, but lifted the cup in 2012 and won the Border League in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

His departure is the third Premiership coach to leave at the end of the season following on Bruce Aitchison (Boroughmuir) and Peter Wright (Selkirk). Aitchison is a former Gala player while Wright has been replaced by Graham Marshall.