Both players moved to Poynder Park in the summer to continue their playing careers after helping the Greenyards side win the Premiership for the third time in four years, and Dalziel’s first season in charge.

However, last week they were thrust into coaching roles themselves after Head Coach Jammy McFarlane was sacked following a series of disappointing results, and assistant coach Gerry McGuinness followed him out of Poynder Park.

Holburn, who has taken over as Head Coach, and Skeen who has been appointed to a player/backs coaching role, lost their first match away to fell strugglers Marr, 46-14, on Saturday.

Kelso now sit third bottom of BT National League One ahead of this weekend’s home game against Jed-Forest - a club Holburn once captained - who sit just one point and one place above them.

When asked what he thought of his former team mates following him into management, Dalziel said: “Gary was at Melrose for four years and won three leagues so he knows what it takes to win and he’ll bring a bit of edge to their scrummaging game, he was a great scrummager.

“And Andrew Skeen has got the flair and understands the game, he has learnt a lot in his career as a pro.

“They know Border rugby and I’m sure they will be a good blend, they’re good friends as well, so they will make a good team there.” While Kelso welcome Jed-Forest to Poynder Park on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, Dalziel’s own side are without a game as the Premiership takes a short break.

And, with nine first team players out of action, he revealed he will use the time to allow his squad to recover ahead of their next games away to Jed-Forest in the Booker Border League on November 22 and at home to Stirling in the BT Premiership on November 29.

Dalziel said: “We’re maybe missing about eight or nine bodies. Todd Pearce picked up a foot injury while training with Edinburgh two weeks ago so he’s been a big miss up front; Andrew Nagle and James Head both had to come off on Saturday, and with all the other injuries we’ve had from the first half of the season, it gives us a couple of weeks to give these guys a mini pre-season.” And he added: “We’re hoping after the next two and a half weeks we’ll be back with a full complement again and attack the second half of the league.” Melrose moved ahead of Gala in the Premiership after the Netherdale lost at home to Ayr. It was their third straight loss in the Premiership and the first time they have lost three in a row since they returned to the top flight three years ago.

However, Gala winger Craig Robertson, who has not featured for the club this season after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury, is confident they will bounce back.

“Every team will go through bad spells,” he said. “But hopefully we can learn from our mistakes and kick on from there. We want to go on and challenge for the championship again.” Robertson, whose brother Gary has been impressing in his first season in the Premiership, is aiming to return early in the New Year - just in time for the title run in.

He added: “If I put in the hard graft in just now, hopefully I’ll come back a fitter and stronger player.” Elsewhere this weekend, Peebles and Selkirk meet at the Gytes in a BT National League One match which also doubles as a Booker Border League game.

Wright will be plotting to continue his side’s unbeaten start to the season against the club he coached last year, while Peebles will be aiming to recapture some of their early season form.

Other matches involving local teams oin Saturday are the Border Shield matches between Berwick and Earlston, and Duns and Hawick Linden; and in BT National League 3, Hawick YM travel to Preston Lodge.