Tranent Amateur Swimming Club head coach Ross Mathieson has stepped down after nearly eight years in the role.

He joined the club in 2010 and has been head coach since November 2014.

Ross, 33, of Tranent, said: “I’ve just got a new job with Scottish Swimming and that’s going to involve me travelling a good bit more than I was before. As much as I’d have liked to stay on, it wouldn’t have been fair for the kids.

“I’ll still be involved with the club and will coach the bronze squad, which is the kids that are just coming in.”

Ross now has full-time role as a Scottish Swimming regional development manager.

Reflecting on some of his highlights with the club, he said: “There’s been a lot of performance achievements but it’s more their journeys.

“There are kids at the club that I had at swimming lessons before they came into the club and now some of them are transitioning into coaching or teaching roles.

“That’s a really big thing for me because it shows I’ve had an impact on them with their enjoyment of swimming.”

Ross will be replaced as head coach by Julia Taylor.

Julia, 45, represented the club as a swimmer before joining the coaching team seven years ago.

The Prestonpans resident said: “I had never thought about being head coach, mostly because I never imagined Ross would leave the job.

“But when it came up, I thought ‘right, I’m going to go for it’; but had it not been for Ross stepping down, it wouldn’t have been something I’d have considered.

“I joined the club as a kid back in 1983 when I was about seven, so it’s been a huge part of my life.

“I’m really eager to get going; the club was such a big part of my childhood and I want to share that with children today.

“I want to help them achieve whatever it is they want to achieve as swimmers, whether that’s competing, coaching or other leadership roles.”