A former chief sports writer who left a Scottish daily after 22 years has now been taken on by a rival newspaper.

Stuart Bathgate left The Scotsman at the end of March as one of a number of journalists to leave the Johnston Press paper and its sister titles under a voluntary redundancy scheme.

Now he has been appointed by Newsquest’s Herald and Times group as chief rugby writer.

Stuart spent a brief period as a freelance journalist after leaving The Scotsman, where he had worked on the sports desk since 1993.

In his new role at The Herald, he replaces Alasdair Reid, who joined the Scottish edition of The Times to write about rugby and golf.

Further changes at The Herald have seen Matthew Lindsay become chief football writer, replacing Michael Grant who also joined The Times in Scotland.

Chris Jack has now taken on Matthew’s previous responsibility of reporting on Rangers Football Club, while Stewart Fisher has become chief sports writer and Neil Cameron has also joined the sports writing team at The Herald and Times Group.

Other recent job moves in the regional press include:

• Leah McLaren has joined national daily The Times as news picture editor. Leah was previously group picture editor at the The Oxford Times and Oxford Mail.
• The Huddersfield Daily Examiner has promoted Martin Shaw to deputy content editor. He was previously assistant news editor at the paper.
• Harrogate Advertiser investigations reporter Ruby Kitchen is now on maternity leave.
• Worthing Herald news reporter Dan Cain’s patch has now expanded to include the Lancing, Shoreham and Steyning Heralds, the Littlehampton Gazette and the Chichester Observer.

On the move yourself?  Email us at [email protected].