It is with great reluctance that we announce the departure of Robbie Horn as our manager as he has been successful in his application to manage SPFL League 2 side Berwick Rangers. Few could have predicted the transformational effect he would have on the club when he and David Burrell took up the mantle just over two seasons ago. He leaves us with some fantastic memories, such as winning our third Super League title in his first season and the journey he and his players took us on last season in the Senior Scottish Cup, culminating in a sold out Tynecastle playing the then Scottish Cup holders Hibernian.

We know this is a decision that he hasn’t taken lightly as he has built an emotional connection with the club, the committee and the supporters as have his family, who have been ardent supporters of the club from the terraces since his arrival. However he has made no secret of his desire to test himself within senior football and that is something that we can’t offer him at this moment in time. Opportunities are limited as there are only 42 roles on offer within the top four leagues, and it is often the case that managers just tend to move from one senior club to another so he felt that this was too good an opportunity to turn down.

It will also be strange not to have David with us, given he has spent 13 of the last 14 seasons with the club but we understand that they came in as a management team so it makes sense to carry that working relationship forward to Berwick Rangers.

We would like to sincerely thank Robbie & David for the last couple of seasons, wish them all the best for the future and to take the opportunity given to them with both hands. We would also like to thank Berwick Rangers for following due process & going about things the right way in Robbie’s appointment.

We understand that supporters and media alike will have lots of questions on future management at New Dundas Park. All we ask at the present time is to bear with us given this has just happened and we will make further announcements in due course. David White has kindly agreed to take the team on an interim basis and he will be assisted by current coach Sean McAuley.

Robbie’s tenure in numbers:

Super League
P 66 W 47 D 6 L 10 Win rate 71%

Overall (Competitive matches)
P 104 W 76 D 11 L 17 Win rate 73%