Beckwith departs Lossiemouth

Grant Street: Chairman Mulheron full of praise as manager steps down due to health reasons

Highland League club Lossiemouth are looking for a new manager after Bobby Beckwith stepped down yesterday for health reasons.

Beckwith, pictured, who arrived at Grant Street from Turriff United, where he was assistant manager to Ross Jack, at the beginning of February, has been in hospital for several weeks after a throat operation.

He is now home waiting to go back in for another operation and felt it would be unfair on the club to try and continue.

He said: “I’d like to thank Lossie chairman Rab Mulheron and the club for their understanding and the support they gave me. Many times I’ve put football before my health, but I now need to think about my health and family, but I’ve tried to put off the decision as long as possible.

“My recovery will take months not weeks, and it Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart will put football first and miss his own stag party if his club reaches the SPFL play-off final by beating East Kilbride over two legs.

The former Caley Thistle, Inverurie Locos and Buckie Thistle midfielder was due to head to Dublin for his stag party on Saturday, May 13, but if Jags defeat the Lowland League champions Stewart insists his friends will have to enjoy the pre-nuptial celebrations without him.

To further complicate things, Stewart is due to get married on Friday, May 19, to Heather, the daughter of former Manchester United and Rangers defender Jimmy Nicholl, who is now Northern Ireland assistant manager, the day before the crucial second leg play-off game against the club finishing bottom of League 2.

That’s one date he will not miss but Stewart would be back in the dugout 24 hours later before heading off on honeymoon on Sunday.

The 35-year-old said: “I wouldn’t even think of going on my stag if it happens to go against the potential play-off. Until now I didn’t want to jinx anything and talk about the play-offs until we’d won our own league, but now it has come to the crunch I have to at least think about it.

“I’d rather carry on in the play-offs than go to my stag party, there’s no way I’m going to miss such an important game. None of my players were going to be going to the stag. My assistant, Lewis MacKinnon, and first-team coach Andy Low intended to go, but if we’re in the play-offs they’ll be at the game with me.”

“I wouldn’t even think of going on my stag”

Stewart has been able to call on family for advice throughout the season and said: “My dad, David, has been a scout for Hearts and Aberdeen. He’s always been the biggest influence on my career. This season he’s been a huge help.

“Similarly, any time I’m in the company of my father-in-law-to-be Jimmy, the talk always turns to football.

“If it’s during meal time, the salt and pepper and sauce bottles are invariably lined up in defensive patterns across the table.”

Forward Neil Gauld is back at Inverurie Locos for a third time after completing his transfer from Highland League rivals Formartine United. Gauld, who will celebrate his 30th birthday on Saturday, said: “I had been at Locos for more than six seasons...