Gala Fairydean Rovers manager Martin Scott quits to take charge of league rivals Berwick Rangers

The West Lothian-born 40-year-old had been at the Galashiels team as a player-coach since June 2021 and took over as manager in January 2022 following Neil Hastings’ departure to coach at Livingston.

Scott’s exit follows that of former assistant manager Steven Craig in June to take on the same role at English Football League Two team Gillingham.

Craig’s replacement as assistant boss at Netherdale, former Fairydean midfielder Ross Aitchison, is heading east with Scott.

Former Hibernian, Livingston and Ross County midfielder Scott replaces Kevin Haynes as manager at Berwick’s Shielfield Park following his dismissal a week ago on Saturday after the best part of two years in the job.

He’s the Northumbrians’ ninth manager in the last ten years, following on from Haynes, Thomas Scobbie from 2023 to 2025, Stuart Malcolm from 2021 to 2023, Ian Little from 2019 to 2021, John Brownlie in 2019, Johnny Harvey from 2018 to 2019, Robbie Horn from 2017 to 2018 and John Coughlin from 2015 to 2017.

Announcing his departure after five years at Fairydean – following in the footsteps of former Heart of Midlothian right-back Jim Jefferies, manager at the old Gala Fairydean from 1983 to 1988 before moving on to Berwick from 1988 to 1990 – Scott said: “I’m absolutely delighted to join Berwick Rangers as first-team manager.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity and this is a club with so much potential.

“I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.”

Welcoming Scott to Berwick’s Shielfield Park, a spokesperson for the English outfit said: “We are delighted to announce that Martin Scott has been appointed as manager following an extensive and thorough search.

“In our discussions over the position, Martin impressed immensely with his attention to detail, vision and clear articulation of the club identity and team culture he will look to build.

“Martin’s passion for developing players combines with a coherent tactical philosophy both in possession and off the ball and makes us excited for the future of Berwick.

“We are thrilled that Martin has agreed to join the club and we are sure that all Berwick Rangers fans will join us in wishing both Martin and Ross a very warm welcome to Shielfield Park.”

Wishing Scott all the best as a rival rather than employee, a Fairydean spokesperson added: “We thank Martin and Ross for their hard work and dedication during their time at Netherdale and wish them both the very best for the future.”

Former Selkirk defender Steven Noble, Fairydean’s manager from their formation in their current incarnation in 2013 until 2018, returns in an interim capacity and he’ll be helped out with coaching duties by first-team players Danny Galbraith and Keaghan Jacobs.

Berwick are currently 13th in their fifth-tier league on five points from nine fixtures, two places and two points better off than Fairydean.

During his five seasons in charge of Rovers, Scott, nicknamed Jimmy, guided them to finishes of 13th in 2022, 12th in 2023, 16th in 2024, 17th in 2025 and 12th last time round, with his new club ending up respectively eighth, seventh, 13th, 16th and eighth again over that timeframe.

His first match in charge at Berwick – beaten 7-1 away to William Hill League One’s Airdrieonians at the weekend in the KDM Evolution Trophy – is on the road at Cowdenbeath this coming Saturday in round one of the Scottish Cup, with kick-off at 3pm.

He’ll go into that game hoping for a second win on the trot against the Fifers, Fairydean’s league opener against them having yielded their only win of this season to date, by 1-0 in July, with eight defeats in a row following.