Rothes FC Managers

Welcome to an under construction chronicle of each Rothes FC manager appointed since 1978. Success at Mackessack Park is not only measured in titles and trophies. Each of these managers has understood the significant challenge involved in ensuring Rothes can compete in the Highland League. Their leadership, often in demanding circumstances, forms an important part of the club's history.

Left: 18 April 1979
Rothes  manager Andy Beattie quit the job before the match against Caledonian on 18 April at Mackessack Park. "It is understood," one newspaper speculated, "that Beattie had resigned because he discovered that Rothes officials had re-signed players without consulting him. Rothes, the North Cup—winners, were beaten 4-0 v  Caley. 

The Aberdeen Evening Express on 19 April 1979 added a few more background details to the shock walk-out by the manager: "Andy Beattie,  who resigned as manager of Rothes just five days after steering them to their first North of Scotland Cup win in twenty years, today told why he had walked out on the club. Andy, who had been seeking changes in the present administrative set-up at Mackessack Park, announced his 'I quit’ decision before the start of the last night's home game with Caley. In fact, he did not even wait to see the match. Instead he motored back to his home in Elgin immediately following show-down talks with club officials." 

"I must emphasise that I could not have had a better bunch of lads to work with - no one can deny that the players put in a tremendous effort this season. But you cannot run a side really successfully with one hand tied behind your back. Things were done that I was not consulted about and it was the last straw when I learned that almost our entire player pool had been retained for next season. It was news to me and I was the manager."

Newspaper talk of "shock walk out" and the like may not have been a complete surprise to readers of the Aberdeen Press and Journal. Two days before Andy Beattie's dramatic departure, a direct quote within an article by journalist Bill McAllister strongly suggested that the manager of the North of Scotland Cup-winners was far from certain to remain at Mackessack Park: "I will be meeting the committee next week for talks on my future. There would have to be certain major improvements in the set-up before I could possibly consider staying." 

Drew Baillie
Appointed: 24 April 1979
The Aberdeen Press and Journal reported on 24 April 1979 that, later that evening, Drew Baillie was expected to become Rothes’ new team manager after a meeting had taken place with club officials. Baillie was set to take over the North of Scotland Cup holders following the resignation the previous week of Andy Beattie. P & J readers were informed that Drew Baillie had been trainer-coach with Rothes since being taken to Mackessack Park by Andy Beattie at the start of the 1978-79 season, and had been offered the post by the Rothes committee, who were still smarting over Beattie's criticisms of them.

Club chairman Donald Mackay, the local headmaster, said; “We feel we have had raw deal in terms of Andy Beattie's allegations and we strongly refute his Implications about committee Interference. Drew Baillie's work has had a great deal to do with our reaching two cup finals, and winning one, this season. He is the ideal man to take over the reigns." 

On 2 May 1981, the Northern Scot reported that there had been a  disappointing attendance at the annual general meeting of Rothes FC held in the social club the previous Monday evening. Mr J. Paton, in his chairman’s report, paid tribute to the dedication of the committee, whose efforts had seen income meet increased expenditure. He also congratulated team manager Drew Baillie on the fine performance of the team, (they finished seventh during both full seasons of Baillie's management)) and the chairman hoped for a similar effort the following season. 

Dismissed: 7 May 1981
Less than a week after the 1981 AGM, the club was in the news for a very different reason. Under the headline, Rothes Axe Manager, the Northern Scot on 9 May 1981 intimated that Drew Baillie's tenure as Rothes manager had come to an end. A terse statement issued by club chairman, Mr John Paton, paid tribute to Mr. Baillie's enthusiasm but was critical of his so-called cavalier attitude.

Mr Paton said: ‘‘Mr. Baillie has worked hard and cannot be faulted on his enthusiasm. However it has become increasingly apparent to the committee that Mr. Balllie's cavalier attitude towards officials, both on and off the field of play, was not compatible with the club's objectives nor conducive to the self-discipline of the playing staff. The decision to release Mr. Baillie from his commitments at Mackessack Park has been taken in the best interests of both parties. A successor has still to be appointed.’’

The same story about Drew Baillie's dismissal also featured on 9 May 1981 in the Aberdeen Press and Journal which reported that "Rothes yesterday dropped the biggest bombshell of the year in Highland League circles when they sacked team manager Drew Baillie. The Speysiders have taken this shock decision following a committee probe into what they describe as the manager's "cavalier attitude towards officials. both and off the field". The P & J commentated  that Drew Baillie has been dismissed despite being arguably the most successful manager the club has had in 20 years in terms of league positions in the past couple of seasons. A disappointed Drew Baillie was equally curt in his reaction to the decision: "It seems that people have short memories."

The P & J article continued: "It is understood that the Mackessack Park committee have taken a dim view of their manager's blunt and forthright criticisms of referees, and that an article he wrote in the match programme last month on the subject of referees proved particularly controversial. Rothes have, ironically, sacked their manager at a time when the club is in severe financial position following tax problems which have left them owing a substantial sum." 

The SFA made it plain that they shared the club's disapproval of the former manager's comments. In a step  described by the Northern Scot  as "unprecedented in Highland League history", the former Rothes manager was suspended indefinitely by the SFA from taking any part in football.. The ruling body's decision also stemmed from the remarks Baillie made concerning a referee in a Rothes F'C club programme. It was this article which prompted the referees' organisation to take the matter up with the SFA and led to Rothes sacking Baillie.

Neil Clayton & Johnny Cowie
15 January 1986 (Cowie) and 27 November 1988 (Clayton) to 1 December 1989 (Clayton) and 4 December 1989 (Cowie)
Co-managers - resigned separately.

Tom Cummings (Under construction as at 26 April 2026)
29 December 1989
On 29 December 1989 the Northern Scot announced that "as of this weekend Rothes are under new management". In the opinion of the Northern Scot's football writer, the Mackessack Park club "appear to have done a shrewd piece of business in appointing the former Cove Rangers supremo (and former Aberdeen FC coach) Tom Cummings as manager". The news item concluded: "Mr. Cummings will have full charge of team affairs and the Rothes board are confident that they have picked a winner and that things can only now get better on Speyside".  

On 11 January 1990, thirty-four year old Mitch Bavidge was appointed as Player/Assistant Manager, the first arrival of some required new blood at Mackessack Park. Aberdonian Tom Cummings explained: "Some of the present playing staff have work commitments and are not available every week so I need to strengthen the squad. I know the Aberdeen Junior scene quite well and I have some ideas there but I am also looking at players currently with Highland League clubs. I would like a good mix of players and that includes local talent. It may take a couple of years to turn things round as I have to do things gradually but I will give 100% commitment to the job." The rebuilding needs were reinforced when the team finished their league fixtures in second bottom place. 

Manager Cummings spoke in similar vein to the Aberdeen Evening Express on 1 August 1990: “Centre half Gareth Roberts and goalkeeper Ivor Hughes have joined us from Dyce Juniors,” Tom Cummings said. “We have several other Aberdeen Juniors training with us and I would like to have a pool of at least sixteen.” Alex Caldwell, Russell Anderson and Ricky Thomson had  all departed Mackessack Park during the close season and the Evening Express suggested that Cummings was under no illusions as to the task ahead. “I know it is going to be difficult for us, he said. “We are building gradually and I think a league position out of the bottom group of four or five would be a fair achievement at thus stage."

It was not to be; Rothes finished the 1990-91 season in bottom position. 

Rothes' bid to bounce back from being bottom of the Highland League would be overseen by a revised management team during the 1991-92 season when Rothes born and bred Graham Scott (31) was named as the new assistant manager, filling the vacancy created by the departure of Mitch Bavidge.  At the beginning of November Tom Cummings was sounding a bit more optimistic, but had identified a weakness not unique to Rothes: “If we can find a quality striker, then we’d be a very different proposition. My lads are showing good attitude."

The gradual improvement was still not evident and the team finished 1990-91 season in bottom position. 

Tom Cummings resigned on 5 September 1992. He was replaced by his assistant, Graham Scott, who paid him the following tribute: "Tom gave 120% to the team and everybody in the town appreciated that. It’s a great pity he didn’t get the return his dedication deserved.”  The departing manager was disappointed that his time at Mackessack Park had not been more successful: "I have had no fall out with the club at all. I would like to have seen more done on the commercial side so that Rothes could have progressed further. I feel I've let down three or four of the lads who I persuaded to give it one more season. 

Gordon Winton
16 November 2004 to 

Graeme Scott
9 September 1992  to 21 March 1994

Resigned

On  Monday 21 March 1994 Graeme Scott resigned as Rothes manager. Scott told club officials - his father Jim Scott was Rothes FC chairman - h the cash problems of the Mackessack Park club there may not be a stampede of potential successors. The administrative slip-up which cost the club a record £3,000 fee from Peterhead for Gordon Duncan also helped demoralise big-hearted Graeme, who is a super-enthusiast. Duncan eventually went with no compensation at all when Scott had agreed to transfer fees with clubs for two other players based on having the £3,000 to spend.

Graeme

“As a Rothes boy, it was my dream to manage the club but I’ve given it my best shot and now I'm finished,” he said. “The team did show improvement but things were not going the right way as quickly as I would have liked. With no money for players, you can only bang your head against a brick wall for so long. He added: “I'm going now because, with thirteen games still to play, it will give whoever takes over the chance to assess for next season. It would be daft for someone to come in the summer without knowing the strengths and weaknesses. I need a break but, hopefully, I can eventually return to the game in some position or other.” 

Graham McBeath (Player-manager)
1996 to 2020
Dismissed

Graham McBeath
1999? to 6 February 2013
Dismissed

Dismissed: 21 December 2016
Thirty-one year-old Fraser Bremner parted company with Rothes  after fourteen months in charge and, according to  Club Chairman Iain Paul, his departure was due to recent results falling “well below” the committee’s expectations.  

Ross Jack (born 21 March 1959)
Appointed: 15 September 2019 
Following a very successful playing career in Scotland and England and briefly in both the Republic of Ireland and Wales, Ross Jack was player-manager of Montrose, before becoming the highly regarded manager of SPFL club Elgin City (2009–2014) and then Highland League Turriff United (2009–2014). Ross Jack's experience shone through during his first press conference as Rothes manager: "I’m not going to make any predictions about estimated finishes or targets. I’m experienced enough to not set too many targets in case I end up with egg on my face. The aim is to win as many games as we can, provide a brand of football that is pleasing on the eye and get the crowd on our side.”

In his first season (2019-20), Rothes won the Highland League Cup for the first time in their history and during 2021–22 the Speysiders captured the North of Scotland Cup for the third time - a considerable contribution to the Rothes FC Honours Board and the club's history. In addition to this cup success, Ross Jack guided Rothes to a third-placed finish in the Covid-19 curtailed 2019-20 campaign and fifth place in season 2021-22. Those were the second and third-highest league finishes in the Speysiders’ history. 

Left by mutual consent: 8 January 2024
Sometimes in football "left by mutual consent" can be a multi-purpose phrase but in this case it simply explains the situation. Chairman Iain Paul took the opportunity to pay tribute to the “fantastic” job done by Ross Jack after they parted company: “Ross has done a fantastic job, not just in terms of on the pitch, but also with the pandemic and the challenges that posed. During his time with the club, Ross has brought substantial success to Rothes. He helped the club improve and probably established us as having one of the best defences in the league. Ross helped raise the standards off the pitch. He’s always supported and appeared when we’ve had corporate groups in and held dinners and things like that. Ross has always been happy to assist in any way he can with that and it’s always been a pleasure to work with him. He’s been very professional, fair and honest throughout – we’ve always had that relationship and I’d hope that would continue.”

“We’ve had some ongoing conversations about the challenges and difficulties we face. Within that we’ve reached a point where we felt it was maybe time for a change."