Edinburgh Accies sack coaches days before play-off

No WINS in more than four months have cost Jonny Else and Malcolm McVie their coaching posts at Edinburgh Accies – meaning the club will go into their biggest match of the season on Saturday without them in the technical area.

Bob Easson will take charge of Accies. Picture: Jane Barlow

Just days before the RBS Premiership play-off match with capital rivals Stewart’s-Melville at Lasswade’s Hawthornden ground, head coach Else and 
assistant McVie have left the Raeburn Place outfit. Director of rugby Bob Easson has been in charge of first-team duties for this week.

The first XV have not won a match since 23 November, losing six in the league, four in the B&I Cup and one in the RBS Cup since then. It meant they finished ninth in the top flight.

Rumours starting floating around club rugby circles late last week that Else and McVie had left Accies, but it was only confirmed by club officials yesterday. The statement read: “A few days ago, the club took the decision to release its first XV squad coaches Jonny Else and Malcolm McVie. Both Jonny and Malcy had been involved at the club as players and, latterly, coaches for many years and we thank them sincerely for everything they have done for the club during that time.

“The club’s priority at the moment is Saturday’s RBS Premiership play-off game against Stewart’s-Melville. Our experienced director of rugby Bob Easson will prepare the squad for that match. Any decisions about the coaching set-up for next season will be taken following Saturday’s game.”

Else had been involved in coaching at the club for eight years, becoming head coach last summer after Simon Cross left.

He got off to a great start, with four wins in the first five Premiership matches, but the season became something of a struggle after that. McVie, a former first XV captain at Accies, had been coaching at the club for six seasons.