Rowan Alexander

Rowan Samuel Alexander (born 28 January 1961 in Ayr, Scotland) is a former footballer and ex-manager of one-time Scottish Football League club Gretna.

Queen of the South

At Dumfries side Queen of the South, Rowan Alexander won promotion from the third to middle tier of Scottish football. This was in 1980-81 in the same side as Allan Ball, Iain McChesney, Crawford Boyd and Jimmy Robertson.^[1][2] Alexander was then joined at QoS by Ted McMinn. When later interviewed for the club website, McMinn and Robertson both described Alexander as being among the best players they played beside at the Dumfries club.^[3][4]

After his departure from Queens he returned to make guest appearances in:-

• The Allan Ball testimonial against Manchester City, (other guests for Queens included Davie Cooper, Danny McGrain and Gary Mackay)^[1]
• The game on 23 April 1995 to mark Queens' 75th anniversary and the opening of the new stand (other guests included Ted McMinn, Davie Irons and Andy Thomson. The game was a 2-2 draw against Rangers^[1][3]

Alexander returned to manage Queens from 1996 to 2000.

Other clubs as a player

Alexander's playing career also included spells at St Mirren, Brentford, and Greenock Morton.

International career

While with Greenock Morton, Alexander won caps for the Scotland Semi-Pro team.^[5]

Management

Rowan Alexander's first appointment as manager of a senior side saw him return to Queen of the South. With new chairman Norman Blount getting the wheels moving on the club's revival, together they took QoS to the 1997–98 Scottish Challenge Cup Final where they went down by the only goal of the game to opposition from a division above, Falkirk F.C..

He was then appointed as Mike McCartney's replacement as player-manager of Gretna with the club playing in the lower English leagues. He remained in charge following their induction to the Scottish Football League.

Following Gretna's take over by multi-millionaire Brooks Mileson, Alexander steered the club to the Scottish Third Division title in 2005 with a record-breaking 98 points. Success continued in the following season as the club clinched promotion to the Scottish First Division and earned a place in the UEFA Cup after reaching the Scottish Cup final, where they were eventually beaten 4-2 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1.

Following Gretna's success in 2005–06, Alexander signed a five-year contract with the club and stated his intention to remain with Gretna for the rest of his career. He was replaced towards the end of the 2006–07 season by his assistant, Davie Irons. He turned up for Gretna's first game in the top division of Scottish football - at Motherwell's Fir Park on 4 August 2007, only to be refused entry.^[6] On 6 November 2007, it was officially announced that Alexander was sacked by Gretna.^[7]

Alexander's sacking and the subsequent liquidation of Gretna meant that he was unable to receive compensation for his five-year contract. In February 2009 he claimed that he was in financial difficulties as a result and was unable to get a job in Scottish football.

In January 2010, Alexander was appointed assistant manager at Scottish Junior side Glenafton Athletic FC and was at the club until August.

Honours as a player

Morton

• 1994-95 - Scottish Football League Second Division
• 1986-87 - Scottish Football League First Division

Managerial honours

Gretna 2000-2007

Scottish Football League Division Three - Champions; 2004-05
Scottish Football League Division Two - Champions; 2005-06
Scottish Cup - Runners Up; 2005-06
Scottish Football League Division One - Champions; 2006–07

References

External links

• Newcastle Fans profile
• Rowan Alexander career statistics at Soccerbase
  
• Rowan Alexander management career statistics at Soccerbase