Club secretary David Roy and his committee put pen to paper with Fairley after the Rose's midweek cup win against Whitburn.

The announcement comes just days after current coach Gordon Rae announced he would not be continuing his role at the club next season.

Mr Roy said "Brian comes to the club with a great pedigree in junior football. He has managed both junior and senior clubs and won the Scottish Junior Cup with Camelon and built the Whitburn side which won it in 2000."

Mr Roy said it was not a hard to decision to make despite around 10 managers all putting their names forward for the vacant manager's role, the committee were in agreement Brian is the man for the job."

The new manager, however, will not take up the reins until the end of the season. Current coach Gordon Rae will oversee matters until then with Fairley running the rule over his new team.

Fairley has a great Scottish Cup pedigree, having won it as a player in 1984 with Bo'ness and, as assistant manager with brother George, he took Camelon to the 1999 final.

He was manager at Whitburn in 2000 but left just before their cup success.

He was also boss at Bo'ness but resigned in 2003 to take over Second Division side Dumbarton. Facing relegation he turned the side around and led them to third in the league the following season only to miss out on promotion by two points.

He then took on the manager's role at Forfar before resigning in 2005 due to work commitments.

As the Journal and Gazette went to press yesterday (Thursday) Brian said he was "delighted" to join the Rose as manager. He said he was amazed at how quickly the decision was made, having spoken to the committee just 24 hours earlier.

He said: "It's great to be back in football. I enjoyed a two and a half year break but football is in my blood and it was hard to give up.''
Brian reiterated his role up until the end of the season will be a watching brief.

A long-time friend of Gordon Rae, both were at Hibs in the early days, he says he will take the opportunity to take whatever advice the present manager has to offer.

Meanwhile the Rose travel to Fife tomorrow (Saturday) to play their Fife and Lothians Cup tie against Crossgates, hoping it will be third time lucky!

Bad weather ruled out the first game while the Scottish Junior Cup semi-finals forced the cancellation at the second attempt. The tie, on paper, should be a walkover for the Rose and coach Gordon Rae is very confident his side will get the result.

After their midweek triumph over Whitburn, Gordon said: "When we go about our business in the style we did against Whitburn we fear no-one and to be fair we battered them."

The only downside is the injury to Gordon Herd which sees him sidelined for the remainder of the season after breaking his ankle in the game at Kelty.

Gordon said: "It's a major blow for Herdy and the club but it gives others the opportunity to come in and McSween and James have done well.

nThe forthcoming matches for the Rose are: May 10, Crossgates (a), 2.30pm; May 17, Carnoustie (a), East of Scotland Cup; May 20, Whitburn (h) league, 7pm.

If successful tomorrow against Crossgates, the Rose will face Newtongrange next Tuesday, May 13 at Prestonfield at 7pm.

The semi-final draw for the Fife and Lothians has paired the winners of the Rose/Crossgates v Newtongrange match against either St Andrews or Whitburn. The other semi-final tie will be contested between Hill of Beath and Bathgate.

The East of Scotland semi-final draw has paired the winners of the Rose/ Carnoustie tie with Camelon.