GALA Rugby Head Coach Stuart Johnson has left the club by mutual consent. And Director of Rugby Bill Noble is also stepping down from his post.

The announcement was made in a statement published on the club website on Wednesday December 7 which read: “Gala Rugby can confirm that Stuart Johnson has left his position as Head Coach at the club by mutual consent.

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“Stuart has been involved at the club since late summer last year, initially as Forwards Coach and latterly as Head Coach.

“The first XV has enjoyed a good spell of success until recently when results have dropped off significantly exacerbated by a period of injury and unavailability of key players.

“We would like to thank Start sincerely for all his hard work and application over this period and wish him every success in his future coaching career.

“We can also confirm that our Director of Rugby Bill Noble has decide to step down from his post.

“Bill has been in post since the start of the pandemic in April 2020 and has been instrumental in shaping the future of Gala Rugby having been heavily involved in the restructuring of the club to include all age groups under the one umbrella of Gala Rugby.

“He also introduced an increased level of professionalism to our operations.

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“We wish Bill all the best for the future with more time to spend with his family.”

The season started brightly for the maroons and only seven weeks ago the club sat proudly at the top of National League One.

Defeats to second placed Kelso at Netherdale and Highland in Inverness were followed by victories over Stewart’s Melville and Stirling County.

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Since then however Gala have suffered three successive heavy defeats to Ayr 45-19, Melrose 63-15 and Watsonians 52-10.

The Watsonians result all but ends any lingering promotion hopes with Gala sitting in fourth place on 36-points from 12-games, 17-points behind leaders Kelso, 14-points behind second placed Melrose and 12-points behind third placed Ayr.

Gala face Ayr at Netherdale on Saturday.