Penicuik shocked as player-manager Meikle quits

Meikle has decided to call it quits, ending an eight-year association with the club having been manager of the Super League side on his own for three years after a three year spell as co-player manager with former team-mate Bryan Ryrie.

The defender led Penicuik to the Premier League title and promotion to the Super League for the first time in 2014, before they finished sixth in the top flight the following season. Last year, they finished in ninth place but won the Fife and Lothians Cup.

“I was shocked when I got the call from Craig,” said club secretary Neil Gordon. “I’ve known him a long time and I’ve supported him to the hilt. There has been progress every year under his management and he has always tried to attract a better standard of player. Craig had ambitions to take us further, he was speaking to quality players for next season.”

Penicuik will hold a committee meeting in the next few days as they decide what steps to take in appointing their new boss. One man who is certain to be in the running for the vacant post is Haddington Athletic boss Johnny Harvey, a former Penicuik player.

Gordon added: “I think it’s an attractive job. If we were to invite applications, I’m sure we’d have a lot of interest.”