⚽ The Kick-Off | Tuesday 4th March 2025
David Gray named manager of the month. Confirmation that the Rangers deal has been agreed in principle. Dunfermline post a financial loss. Ray McKinnon in interim charge at Brechin.
➡️ Random Scottish Football Fact #7: Falkirk are the only Scottish football team to hold the world record transfer fee paid for a player - Syd Puddefoot. They paid it to West Ham in person with cash in a briefcase.
News
🏅 Hibernian manager David Gray has been named Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month for February. The Hibees picked up three wins and a draw during that time. - Robbie Hanratty, The Herald
🔵 The Rangers takeover deal has been agreed in principle. It is expected to be completed by the end of the season or by the summer at the latest. - Fergus Matheson, Raman Bhardwaj & Andy Coyle, STV
This follows Jordan Campbell’s reporting (see last Thursday’s The Kick-Off) that the outline of the deal was agreed upon last week, with Dave King, John Bennett and Barry Scott all exiting.
🧾 Dunfermline Athletic reported a loss of more than £900,000 in their latest accounts. This was more than they had budgeted for however, a convertible loan note held by the previous owners worth £1 million, had been settled by new owners, Park Bench SFC LLC. Short-term loans had also been settled after the balance sheet date.- Ross Hart, Dunfermline Press
🏟️ Falkirk has gained full ownership of the Kevin McAllister stand at The Falkirk Stadium by acquiring the South Stand Development Company Ltd. The club now owns both their north and south stands outright and has a long leasehold interest in the club’s offices and football-related facilities in the main stand. - Ben Kearney, The Falkirk Herald
🤝 Ray McKinnon has been appointed interim manager of Highland League side Brechin City. Last season’s Highland League runners-up sacked Patrick Cregg on Sunday following what they deemed to be a poor run of results.
McKinnon was most recently the manager of fellow Angus side, Forfar Athletic but was sacked in November with the club sitting bottom of League Two. - Brechin City website
📢 Also in the Breedon Highland League, Nairn County has advertised their managerial vacancy. Previous manager Ross Tokely left the club in January after a poor start to his managerial reign at Station Park. - Nairn County on X
📖 Partick Thistle was forced to issue an apology for the tone and content of an article written about the late Alex Frew in their club programme on Saturday. - Partick Thistle website
🔴 Dunfermline has appealed Kyle Benedictus’ red card from the weekend. The Pars captain was sent off in their 2-1 win over Morton. - Iain Collin, The Courier
👀 Steve Clarke was spotted in the stands by the ITV cameras during the Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town FA Cup tie last night. He was said to be casting his eye on Ipswich striker George Hirst. Hirst is eligible for Scotland through his grandfather and scored for The Tractor Boys against Forest. Ipswich went out on penalties after the game finished 1-1.
Scottish Football Fixtures Today
➡️ SPFL Championship
Airdrieonians v Falkirk (7.45pm - live on BBC Scotland)
Queen’s Park v Ayr United (7.45pm)
➡️ SPFL League One
Dumbarton v Arbroath (7.45pm - live on BBC Alba)
➡️ SPFL League Two
Stranraer v Forfar Athletic (7.45pm)
➡️ Parks Motor Group Lowland League
Cowdenbeath v Civil Service Strollers (7.45pm)
Heart of Midlothian B v East Kilbride (7.45pm)
Plus fixtures in the West of Scotland League, East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, SPFL Reserve League and youth football - view all fixtures on the Scottish Football Fixtures website