DUNFERMLINE Rugby Club's senior men's first XV and women's sides will be led by new coaches ahead of the new season.

The McKane Park outfit are in the process of replacing Stuart Brown, who has been in charge of the men's first XV for the past three years, and the team's captain, Cammy Dunn, who has decided to step back from his role with the women's team.

Brown, who has coached at Dunfermline over the course of two decades, vacated his role having led them to a second-place finish in this season's Tennent's Caledonia Region League, Division One.

After registering nine successive wins from the beginning of November, which included a memorable win over nearest challengers Orkney in January, the team moved to the top of the table last month with a 15-point advantage and an unblemished home record.

Having completed their fixtures, they required favours from elsewhere as Orkney had five more matches to play, but the Orcadians went on to win each of them to take the title and seal promotion to National League Division Three.

Earlier this month, we reported that Brown – nicknamed 'Skidz' – was feted by Scottish Rugby with the Volunteer of the Season award for the Caledonia Midlands region, in recognition of the time and effort he puts in to providing enjoyable, high-quality and engaging training sessions for up to 80 players a week.

"That award shows the esteem in which he is held in the rugby community across Scotland," club president, Kevin Storie, commented.

"Stuart is an absolute stalwart of the club but has decided to step back. He has done a power of work for the club.

"Stuart is a club man through and through. He has willingly given his time, effort and energy in supporting our senior players to thrive and play to the best of their ability, and we are extremely grateful for his contribution to the club over the years.

"We have already had a couple of responses to the men's coach role, which is very positive. We are looking to get some high-calibre coaches in."

Dunfermline have aspirations of their men's first and second XVs – the latter of which play in Tennent's Caledonia Midlands Region League, Division Three – next season, and the successful applicant will have responsibility for performance rugby across the club, for first XV training and matches, and overarching responsibility for the second XV.

There is also a vacancy to lead the women's side, which first began in January 2019 when Mark Dobson, who was Dunfermline's men's first XV head coach, organised a free training programme for female players.

Last September, Dunfermline took to the field for their first-ever competitive league season, in Scottish Rugby's Tennent's Midlands/East League, while, earlier this year, they secured their first victories in a 'bowl' competition, defeating Liberton, a Midlands Development team, and Bishopton.

Former player Katie Lindsay, who is now with Premiership side Stirling County, was last month selected for a Scotland Futures team to play England, and Kevin is delighted with the team's progress.

The club now hope to bring in an "empowering, engaging and enthusiastic" head coach to "move them on to the next stage in their development", with Kevin adding: "We are so proud of all that Cammy has helped our women achieve during his tenure as head coach.

"He has helped develop and nurture many of these players from beginner status to fully-fledged rugby enthusiasts, playing on a weekly basis, and we thank him very much for his efforts."

Applications for the men's head coach role closed on Friday, but anyone interested in the women's head coach position can email a coaching CV to info@dunfermlinerugby.co.uk, with the subject 'Dunfermline women's head coach position', and full job descriptions can be found on the club's website, at www.dunfermlinerugby.co.uk.