Jonathan Baillie (born 2 September 1985) is the former Manager of Troon F.C. in the SJFA West Region Premiership.

Jonathan Baillie
Jonathan Baillie, receiving the Troon F.C. 2011/12 POTY Award from Manager Jimmy Kirkwood
Personal information
Full name Jonathan Baillie
Date of birth (1985-09-02) 2 September 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Irvine, Scotland
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 Hibernian 3 (0)
2006Ayr United (loan) 2 (0)
2009 Glenafton Athletic
2009–2012 Troon
2012–2014 Whitletts Victoria
2014–2015 Troon
2015Maybole (loan)
Managerial career
2012–2014 Whitletts Victoria (Assistant Manager)
2015 Annbank United
2015–2017 Craigmark Burntonians (Assistant Manager)
2018–2019 Troon (Coach)
2019 Troon
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

Baillie, a central defender, made his Hibernian debut during the 2003–04 season when manager Bobby Williamson drafted him into defence for a League Cup quarter-final match against Celtic in December 2003, which the 18-year-old Baillie helped his side win 2–1.[1] Injuries meant that he didn't get a prolonged spell in the first team. He had to wait for selection until another match against Celtic in the Scottish Premier League three months later, but Hibs were beaten 4–0 and Baillie himself was sent-off.[2]

Baillie made just two appearances in Tony Mowbray's time as manager and wasn't picked after a 4–4 home draw against Dundee in September 2004. He had a brief loan spell at Ayr United in January 2006,[3] but did not play a first-team game for Hibernian in over two and a half years. Baillie was the victim of a catalogue of injury problems, which forced him to retire from senior football at the end of the 2006–07 season,[4] aged just 21.[5]

Baillie has since worked as a car salesman and has returned to football in the junior ranks with local club Troon.[5]

Coaching career edit

After being forced to retire due to a back injury for a second time in 2012, Baillie was appointed Assistant Manager under Steph McMillan at Whitletts Victoria, and he eventually left the Vics to re-join Troon FC and resume his playing career.

After a season with Troon FC, and a loan spell at Maybole FC, Baillie retired for the final time and was appointed as Manager of Ayrshire District League side Annbank United ahead of the 2015-16 season. After a difficult opening spell, Baillie's resignation was initially refused by the committee but was finally accepted only a few months into the season.

Under Junior football legend John Redmond, Baillie was appointed as part of the backroom team at Craigmark alongside Ian "Spank" Patterson, and the trio set about the rebuild of the once great mining club. A strong start, based around a young & talented squad, concluded in a mid-table finish which marked a major improvement in standings.

Baillie was appointed as First Team Coach at Troon F.C. in June 2018 under his former Manager Jimmy Kirkwood and he was appointed Manager when Kirkwood stepped up to join the club committee.[6]

He parted company with Troon in early November after expressing fears of the sack following a poor start to the season[7]

References edit

  1. ^ West, Jon. Hibernian 2 Celtic 1, Sporting Life.
  2. ^ "Hibernian 0–4 Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  3. ^ "Hibs' Baillie joins Ayr on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  4. ^ "SPL ins and outs". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  5. ^ a b Hardie, David (21 October 2009). "Ex- Hibs youngster Baillie back to enjoying his first love". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  6. ^ "NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM UNVEILED – Troon Football Club". Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Troon boss Jonathan Baillie fearing sack after Rossvale defeat". 4 November 2019.

External links edit