Nairn County appoint Wayne Mackintosh as their new manager after the club legend ends his 21-year Highland League playing career

A footballer has stepped into management after announcing his retirement at the end of last season.

Wayne Mackintosh is the new boss at Highland League side Nairn County, signing a two-year deal to take charge at Station Park.

The club legend played at Nairn for 13 years before returning to the club after spells at Formartine United and Rothes.

The 37-year-old enjoyed a 21-year career in north football.

"I spent the vast majority of my career here and I have always had a strong affiliation with the club, so it is an honour to take on this role,” Mackintosh said in a club statement.

"I am aware how well the club is organised and the infrastructure that is already in place here. We have come off the back of a difficult season and the aim now is to make sure we improve on that to push towards our objective of becoming a top Highland League team and being in the mix for silverware in future years and that challenge really excites me.

"I know the squad well having been back at the club as a player for the last two-and-a-half years. It is now my job to make sure they deliver on the pitch and I cannot wait to get started. Nairn County is in my blood and I can assure the fans that I will give it my all to put a winning team on the park and bring success to the club."

Recently appointed Nairn chairman Kevin Reid added: “I obviously inherited the situation where the manager's post had been vacant since January and straight away, Wayne seemed like the ideal candidate.

“We need stability moving forward, so I am delighted he has accepted and I would like to thank our Director of Football, Graeme Macleod, for all of his hard work in making this appointment happen.

"He knows the squad, he knows the league, he is respected throughout the Nairn community and respected throughout the Highland League and most importantly, he knows what it takes to win at this level. I am really excited about the prospect of working with Wayne and seeing what he can bring to the role."

He added: "I am keen for us as a club to grow our own talent and this is also a reward for all of Wayne's hard work down the years with our youth teams developing himself as a coach. As a Management Committee, we have all pledged to give Wayne as much support as we can and I would ask the supporters to get behind the new Manager with positivity as we now look ahead to a new beginning next season with optimism.

"I would also like to put on record my thanks to everyone who applied for the position or expressed an interest. We received a large volume of candidates and I wish all them the best for the future."

Mackintosh came through County’s youth ranks to make his first team debut in March 2004, winning two North Cups and one Highland League Cup with the club.

He won both trophies again with Formartine and Rothes, then lifted the North Cup for a fourth time back at Nairn in 2023.

He made a total of 411 appearances in a County shirt.