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Ex-football manager joins daily newspaper as writer

barrysmithA former football manager has become the latest recruit to the editorial staff of a Scottish regional daily.

The Dundee-based Evening Telegraph has hired Barry Smith as its new football writer, replacing Liam Kennedy who has joined the Sunderland Echo in a similar role.

Barry, pictured,is a former professional footballer and until April was manager of Aldershot Town, who now play in English football’s fifth tier, the National League.

In a first-person piece for the Telegraph he admitted his new role could be his “biggest challenge.”

Wrote Barry: “I’ve had a few moves in my time, having played for Celtic, Dundee, Valur (Iceland), Partick Thistle, Morton and Brechin.

“I was also manager at three clubs — Dundee, Alloa and Aldershot — but my move to writing for the Evening Telegraph may be my biggest challenge of all.”

He added: “A big thank you to Liam Kennedy for showing me the ropes last week. Liam first joined the Tele when I was manager of Dundee and we always had a good relationship.

“I’d like to wish him the very best of luck in his new venture back home in the north-east of England.”

Other recent job moves in the regional press include:

* Rachel Wearmouth, regional affairs reporter for Newcastle’s Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun since 2011, is joining the Sunday Post as politics and investigations reporter on 1 October.

* Trinity Mirror Regionals has appointed Daniel Smith as digital development editor. Daniel was previously served as head of audience for the publisher.

* Mary-Ann Astle, digital editor at stoke daily The Sentinel, has been promoted to executive editor at Staffordshire Sentinel News & Media.  Her role will continue to include oversight of digital content.

* Liverpool Echo business journalist Tony McDonough has left the paper to take on a consultancy role atlocal business news website YB News.

* Sam Morris, who was recently made redundant from the role of digital publisher at the Lincolnshire Echo, has joined the Shropshire Star as a senior reporter.

* Jamie Bowman has joined Wrexham based daily The Leader as a features writer.

* Hertfordshire Mercury reporter Sam Meadows has been made chief reporter for the Mercury, Harlow Star and Herts & Essex Observer.

* John-Paul Holden, previously city council and education reporter on the Edinburgh Evening News, has been appointed assistant news editor of the News, The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday.  His role of city council reporter goes to Alistair Grant.

* David Taylor has joined the Bury Times as a reporter. He was previously a reporter at Gloucester daily The Citizen

* Sophie McCoid, previously multimedia journalist at the Southport Visiter and Ormskirk & Skelmersdale Advertiser, has left the papers to join the Liverpool Echo as social media reporter.

* Plymouth daily The Herald has hired Gayle McDonald as defence reporter. Gayle was previously news and features reporter for The West Briton.

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