Berwick Rangers ​kick on with challenge cup win after giving manager Kevin Haynes the boot

​Tuesday’s 3-2 KDM Evolution Trophy league-stage victory at home to William Hill League Two’s Stranraer followed Haynes being sacked in the aftermath of Saturday’s goalless Scottish Lowland Football League East draw hosting Musselburgh Athletic and those of assistant manager Gary Small and coaches Andy Donlevy and Ross Merrilees on Monday.

First-choice goalkeeper Calum Antell and captain Jamie Pyper were put in interim charge for Tuesday’s SPFL Challenge Cup and oversaw their second victory on the bounce in that competition, coming after one by 1-0 hosting Hibernian B earlier in the month.

Those two wins from four trophy fixtures leave the Northumbrians 17th of 32, as one of three teams on seven points, with the top 22 after two more matches going through to November’s round of 32.

Rangers’ two remaining league-phase matches, both against William Hill League One opponents, are away to Airdrieonians this coming Saturday and at home to Queen of the South at Shielfield Park on Tuesday, October 13, with kick-offs at 3pm and 7.45pm.

This week’s Alfie Robinson-skippered win – Rangers’ first versus SPFL opponents since they beat Peterhead 2-0 at home back in March 2019 prior to their relegation from what was then called Ladbrokes League Two that summer – was secured by a 94th-minute goal from Liam Gregory past visting keeper Ewan Henderson following earlier scoresheet contributions from Caelan McCrone one minute in and Kyle Somers just ahead of the hour mark.

On target for the Dumfries and Galloway outfit beyond home keeper Owen Hayward were Robbie-Sylvain Foster on four minutes and Evan Dunne on 89.

Welcoming that winning start to his and Pyper’s stint as temporary co-gaffers, Antell, 34, told the club’s Facebook page: “It’s been a tough 48 hours with the manager losing his job, and I think, as players, you take some of the responsibility for that.

“Results have not really been good enough this season, so sometimes the onus actually falls on the players.

“Tonight was a crazy, crazy game. To start off by going ahead in 22 seconds was unbelievable – normally it’s the other way round – so it was good to be on the other side of it.

“Each and every man was incredible really. It was a real team effort.

“I thought the boys were brilliant, honestly – they won every first ball, they won every second ball.

“A couple of hours before, we were struggling for 11 players, so to even get a team on the pitch was unbelievable. I think we had ten boys out and one cup-tied so it was a whole starting 11 really that were out, so credit to the boys that played – to go again tonight and to put that kind of performance in was really good.

“I was so proud of the performance. Honestly, every man was incredible.”

Announcing Haynes’ departure just after midnight on Saturday, a club spokesperson posed: “

We can confirm that Kevin Haynes has had his position as manager of Berwick Rangers terminated with immediate effect.

“We would like to thank Kevin for his work since arriving at the club in January 2025.”

A further statement followed on Monday saying: “We can confirm that assistant manager Gary Small, coach Andy Donlevy and goalkeeping coach Ross Merrilees have departed the club.

“We would like to thank Gary, Andy and Ross for all their efforts and for their dedication in their time at the club. Everyone at Berwick Rangers wishes them the very best for the future.”

Rangers are currently 13th of 16 teams making up the eastern Lowland league, on five points from nine fixtures, ahead of a visit from third-placed Linlithgow Rose on Saturday, October 17, with kick-off at 3pm.