ROSS High RFC are looking for a new coach, after Bob Baillie stood down last week.

Baillie, a former club captain of the Tranent outfit, cited work commitments as the reason behind his departure just four games into the new season.

Last week, Baillie, who works for a security company, told Courier Sport why he stood down following the 30-22 loss to Penicuik.

He said: "I work away a lot and I just feel that I can't commit to it for the rest of the season."

He guided the Tranent side to successive promotions, and leaves them in National League Division 1 alongside fellow county sides North Berwick and Dunbar.

He felt he had left the club in a better position than when he took over, in the 2012/13 season.

His first year in charge was spent consolidating their place in East League Division 3, before securing promotion the following year.

The Tranent side backed up their league title win with a second-place finish in Division 2 last term, to secure back-to-back promotions.

"I think we've made a lot of progress", Baillie said.

"We've obviously had the two promotions which stand out as highlights and I think the club is in a much better place."

He was, though, disappointed with the results in the opening four games of this campaign, and his departure.

"We had a disappointing result at Penicuik which we'd hoped to win, but the boys managed to pick up a losing bonus point so we took something from that."

The 33-year-old admits his departure was "not how he wanted it to be" but wished the club all the best.

John Tinlin, club president, said: "We're very disappointed to see Bob go – he has done some excellent work over his three years in charge.

"It is unfortunate that he can't commit due to his work commitments.

"We've turned a bit of a corner – we've got a 2nd XV out for the first time in four years and they had something like 27 players at the weekend – just as that happens, we've lost our head coach.

"Bob has done a great job, and hopefully he won't be a stranger to the place."

The coaching team of Grant Scott, James White and Ian Clark, who worked as Baillie's assistants during his tenure, are expected to be in charge until a new head coach is appointed.

Tinlin joked the vacancy may appeal to South African Alan Solomons, who recently resigned as head coach at Edinburgh Rugby.

"The Edinburgh coach [Alan Solomons] has just resigned, so there's an opening at Ross High if he's interested!"

Applicants are asked to email John Tinlin, Ross High president, on rugby@rosshighrfc.co.uk, using the subject line: Ross High RFC 1st XV head coach applicant.