Berwick Rangers part company with manager Kevin Haynes after Musselburgh Athletic draw

Berwick Rangers have parted company with manager Kevin Haynes in the wake of Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Musselburgh Athletic.

The Borderers’ difficult start to the new campaign continued as they were forced to settle for a sharing of the spoils at Shielfield Park having played 86 minutes of the contest with 10 men following Alfie Robinson’s early red card. Saturday’s point leaves Berwick 13th in the Lowland League East table having won just one of their opening nine fixtures.

And it is within that context that Rangers have taken the decision to relieve Haynes of his duties. In a statement posted to social media, the club explained: “We can confirm that Kevin Haynes has had his position as manager of Berwick Rangers Football Club terminated with immediate effect. We would like to thank Kevin for his work since arriving at the club in January 2025. The club will make no further comment at this stage.”

For his part, Haynes spoke to the club’s in-house media team after the final whistle on Saturday afternoon, praising his side for their performance under difficult circumstances.

He said: “I thought we were really good today. Obviously going down to 10 men so early in the match - we've had to complete 90 minutes with 10 men - and off the ball I thought our shape was excellent. I thought our discipline, our work ethic... I thought we were really, really good off the ball.

“On the ball, I thought at the end there we've had two or three really good chances. I don't think Owen [Hayward] has had a save to make, if I'm honest. So in terms of what Musselburgh created, it was pretty much not a lot, and what they did was throw a lot of balls into the box - a lot of throw-ins, a lot of corners, a lot of set-pieces - and I thought we dealt with it today.”

Haynes, always unflinchingly honest in his assessment of his side’s fortunes, admitted in the wake of Berwick’s recent defeat to Civil Service Strollers that he would understand if his position in the dugout was under threat given the underwhelming start that Rangers have made to the current campaign.

He said: "It was difficult because we made it difficult... We’re just nowhere near it. Four points from eight games. The chairman’s standing outside and if wants to sack me that would be justified because of the points return.”