Stenhousemuir secure spot in Scottish Championship next season after historic play-off success
Stenhousemuir secure spot in Scottish Championship next season after historic play-off success.
Gary Naysmith will depart promoted Stenhousemuir as the club’s greatest manager after leading the Warriors to a historic Scottish Championship play-off success.
The Ochilview Park side won promotion to the SPFL’s second tier for the first time in the modern era after a x two-legged victory over Alloa Athletic. Stenhousemuir, who finished second in Scottish League One just two points behind champions Inverness Caley Thistle, had already progressed past full time Queen of the South in the semi final before playing the Wasps.
In the first leg at the Indodrill last Wednesday, the Warriors racked up a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Ross Taylor, Matthew Aitken and Michael Anderson securing a 3-1 win over Andy Graham’s team. And the second leg finished 1-0 to the Wasps with Cameron O’Donnell’s goal not enough to haul the back.
Having also led Stenhousemuir to the club’s first-ever league title back in season 2023/2024, former Scotland full-back Naysmith departs for Ayr United having cemented his name as the Warriors’ greatest manager. Leaving alongside him to make the move to Somerset Park is assistant boss Brown Ferguson. A Stenhousemuir stalwart over a number of spells with the club - he also departs a legend.
A minute’s applause was held pre-match on Saturday evening for revered former chairman and director Terry Bulloch. He played a part in everything that has led the club to this point. Naysmith and his backroom staff; skipper Gregor Buchanan and the playing squad, they have all earned their place in the history books alongside him, although to be fair so many of them already had attained immortal status after the League Two title win. They’re on a different level now however - and it is likely that no team will repeat or even get close to the heroics and achievements of this group.
The Ochilview Park team can now looks forward to playing in next season’s Championship alongside a compliment of eight full time clubs, with Arbroath the only other part-time side. SPFL league fixtures will be revealed on Thursday, June 18 at noon.