Berwick Rangers appoint former forward Kevin Haynes as manager

New Berwick Rangers manager Kevin Haynes (Pic: Dunbar United)

Berwick Rangers have appointed former player Kevin Haynes as their new manager following prior gaffer Thomas Scobbie’s departure on Sunday.

The 43-year-old returns to Northumberland after managing East of Scotland Football League premier division outfit Dunbar United since July 2021.

He was previously assistant manager to Ian Little at Berwick for two years from July 2019.

Haynes had also played for Berwick prior to that as an attacker from 2005 to 2008, making 55 appearances, scoring 22 goals and helping them win the 2007 Scottish Division Three title under gaffer John Coughlin.

Thomas Scobbie overseeing a 2-1 win for Berwick Rangers away to Gala Fairydean Rovers on Saturday, his last game as the Northumbrians’ manager (Photo: Thomas Brown)

A spokesperson for the Shielfield Park club said: “Berwick Rangers are delighted to announce the appointment of Kevin Haynes as manager after agreement was reached with Dunbar United.

“Kevin will be no stranger to fans at Shielfield Park, having featured for the club as both a player and assistant manager in the past.

“Since 2021, Haynes has been manager at Dunbar, where he has built a strong reputation for playing attractive football and getting results.

“We are therefore very pleased that Kevin has agreed to take the hot seat at Berwick and we look forward to working with Kevin for the rest of this season and beyond.”

Ethan Dougal in action for Gala Fairydean Rovers, going up against Cai MacNamara, during their 2-1 loss at home to Berwick Rangers on Saturday (Photo: Thomas Brown)

Striker Liam Buchanan, scorer of two goals during a 2-1 victory away to Gala Fairydean Rovers on Saturday, joins Dalkeith-based Haynes’s back-room staff in a player-coach role, having also extended his current contract to summer 2026.

Haynes’s other teams as a player included Dalkeith Thistle, Preston Athletic and Whitehill Welfare.

Weather permitting, Rangers are at home to Tranent Juniors, another of Haynes’s old clubs, this coming Saturday, with kick-off at 3pm.

They go into that game sitting 15th in the Scottish Lowland Football League table on 21 points from as many fixtures, 11 places and 21 points worse off than their prospective visitors.

Joe Wylie, right, on the ball for Gala Fairydean Rovers during their 2-1 loss at home to Berwick Rangers on Saturday (Photo: Thomas Brown)

Former Cowdenbeath, Partick Thistle, Livingstone and Raith Rovers striker Buchanan scored on nine minutes and 15 in Galashiels at the weekend, with Ethan Dougal getting one back for their hosts just after the half-hour mark, as Berwick made amends for their defeat at home to the Borderers the previous Saturday.

The 39-year-old, making a comeback from injury, was glad to be back in action and even happier to show he’s got his shooting boots back on, telling the club’s Facebook page afterwards: “I’ve had a long time out but it was good today.

“I got a couple of goals and, more importantly, the team won the game.

“Gala isn’t an easy place to come and play. They’re a good footballing side. They make it hard, but the boys have been working hard.

“It’s been difficult at times. We’ve not had the results, but you can’t fault the boys’ effort. They’re putting it in all the time, every week, and today we got our reward.

“The astro is good here. We can get the ball down and play.

“We played some good football and created some good chances.

“We could have been more clinical if we were really putting it to bed, but to come here and win is a good result because it’s a difficult place to come to.”