GALA Head Coach George Graham this week gave the club a massive boost by confirming he will be back in the hotseat at Netherdale next season for what could turn out to be one last push for the Premiership title.

The Maroons, who last won the Scottish championship in 1983, have come agonisingly close to lifting the trophy in the last two seasons and this year were denied by local rivals Melrose on the final day of the season.

That defeat was compounded when the club was knocked out the Scottish Cup by Glasgow Hawks a week later by only the narrowest of margins.

However, last week, Gala made it third time lucky when they defeated Melrose to win the Border League final at Berwick, 30-14.

It is the third year in a row they have won the title - a first in their history. The match was played in England for the very first time, ironically on St George’s Day.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph after the match, Graham said: “The performance tonight was the pleasing thing for me. I thought we showed what kind of team we are against the best team in Scotland and I think we pretty much played them off the park.

“I thought we controlled most of the aspects of the game, other than the two silly errors that we made from kicks, it could have been 30-0.

“It’s fantastic to finish the season with a bit of silverware, albeit, and taking nothing away from the Border League cup, it’s not the league cup and that’s the trophy every coach measures himself by and that’s the one that I wanted and that’s what the club wanted.

“But we’re really happy. We’ve come here to play in a nice setting; I thought there was a good crowd considering the distance away from the home of Scottish rugby. And it just gives us that wee bit of belief to move on to next season and try to carry things on.” When asked if he would definitely be back next season, Graham replied: “Is a shark’s head waterproof? Very much so.” The former Scotland international revealed he still had a year left on his current contract with Gala - although the club hope they can convince him to extend it - and would do everything he can to help Gala win the league.

He revealed he hoped to keep his current squad together and make some new additions. He admitted Rory Sutherland was expected to sign a contract with professional side Edinburgh but he pointed out he hoped to retain his services on match days, along with Chris Auld and Ewan McQuillin who are currently on Elite Development Programme contracts.

Gala captain George Graham, junior, is also expected to return for the start of preseason after injury ruled him out the end of this season, while a number of younger players are also pushing for places in the first team.

“I’d be disappointed if we lose any (players) because they are a great bunch of boys” the Head Coach revealed. “We might try to strengthen certain areas but in terms of losing any I don’t think so.

“George is continually getting physio and I think it would be silly to risk damaging it again, he’s probably going to give himself a bit of a break. He’s in the gym quite a bit just now trying to get himself a bit of weight on and looking forward to next season.” Question marks have been raised over the future of the Border League after Gala were given a bye into the final after Jed and Kelso were unable to raise a team to play them in their outstanding pool fixtures.

But a meeting was planned with club presidents this week to ensure there is no repeat next season.

Graham said: “For me as a coach I can only control what I can control. If teams don’t want to play us we can’t be held responsible for that. The rules are there and say if they don’t play us then they forfeit the game and we get maximum points and that’s effectively what happened. My job’s on the grass not in the clubhouse.” When put on the spot and asked for his highlight this season, Graham said: “Winning at Ayr was a particularly good one, winning at Melrose on Boxing Day is always good, tonight (Border League final win) was up there, that’s a really good one. Every time you win for Gala, for me, they are all memorable ones. I think we’ll learn a lot from this season.” And, smiling, he added: “I’m really, really happy about tonight and glad to finish the season on a high.”