A regional daily sports reporter has taken the plunge to go freelance after bowing out on a high note.

Craig Fowler’s final game for the Edinburgh Evening News came in August as he watched his beloved Heart of Midlothian achieve European success.

That dramatic last-gasp win over Rosenborg turned out to be the final action of Craig’s nine-year career at The Scotsman and the Evening News before he opted to take voluntary redundancy from the National World titles.

His official leaving date came last week, and he is now looking forward to new challenges, which will include writing a weekly football column with The Herald and hosting his football podcast ‘The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast’.

Craig Fowler has taken redundancy from the Edinburgh Evening News to start up as a freelance.

He revealed his departure with a post on social media platform ‘X’ which read: “After over 9 years with The Scotsman/Evening News, this week officially saw my exit.

“A very difficult decision to leave but it was the right time to do something else. Far too many individuals to thank on here, but just know that your support and guidance was truly appreciated.

“Was also absolutely class for my final shift (way back in August) to be covering my boyhood team in a European game and to see them score a last-minute winner at a rocking Tynecastle. Now back in the stands for games at Tynie – should really practice my booing…”

Craig joined The Scotsman in 2016 after starting with some casual shift work and doing some work experience and match reports for the Scotland on Sunday.

His switch to the Evening News saw him take on a more print-orientated role as he enjoyed attending more press conferences and matches.

Speaking to HTFP, he explained his reasons for leaving, and how poignant it was to exit on such a high.

He said: “Like the vast majority of newspaper companies around the world, National World is facing its challenges and when my boss Phil Johnson departed in July, I thought it was maybe time to move on and took the plunge when I got a decent severance offer.

“The high point was certainly my last ever shift, which was covering Hearts 3 Rosenborg 1 – a thrilling European night which ended with Hearts advancing thanks to an injury-time goal from Cammy Devlin. One of those moments where you really feel like life is smiling on you.

“I’d like to thank Graham Bean for being the first editor to believe in me, Stephen Emerson for giving me my first job, and Mark Atkinson and Phil Johnson, who were both excellent bosses to work under.”