Two former Hearts and Hibs players have joined forces to form a new management team in the 10th tier of Scottish football. James Keatings and Adam Eckersley, who both crossed the Edinburgh divide by moving from Tynecastle to Easter Road, have been appointed by Wishaw FC in the West of Scotland League Fourth Division.

It is the first venture into management for both men as they look to build careers in coaching. Keatings, now 34, takes charge of the team with Eckersley, 41, as his assistant. They are tasked with guiding Wishaw further up the West of Scotland League after their appointments were confirmed at the weekend.

“Wishaw Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of James Keatings as our new manager,” said Wishaw in a statement. “James will be assisted by Adam Eckersley as they look to take the club forward. Details of James’ backroom staff will be announced in due course. In the meantime, we wish James a warm Wishy welcome.”

Keatings grew up in Wishaw and played for local youth team Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers before joining Celtic as a teenager. The striker moved to Hamilton Academical in 2013 and then joined Hearts in 2014 as they emerged from a year-long administration process. He scored 11 goals in 33 games in maroon during the 2014/15 campaign, helping Hearts return to the Scottish Premiership with a record-breaking Championship title win.

In a surprise move, Keatings then moved to the other side of Edinburgh to join Hibs that summer. He spent two years at Easter Road, making 71 appearances and scoring 20 goals. He also earned a place in club folklore by playing ss a substitute in Hibs’ historic Scottish Cup final win over Rangers at Hampden Park in May 2016.

Keatings later played for Dundee United, Hamilton again, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Raith Rovers, Forfar Athletic and Tranent. His career was cut short due to a hip injury and he trained as a plasterer. He was prosecuted for money laundering last year and struggled with mental health, but is now back in football and keen to establish himself in management.

Keatings and Eckersley have remained close since their time as team-mates with both Hearts and Hibs. The Englishman came through Manchester United’s youth academy before loan spells with Antwerp in Belgium, Brondby in Denmark, plus English sides Barnsley and Port Vale. He then played with Danish clubs Horsens and Aarhus before joining Hearts in 2014.

He established himself as first-choice left-back and was a key component in the team which secured that Championship title success. Hearts decided not to renew his contract in summer 2015 and instead signed the Nigerian international defender Juwon Oshaniwa. Eckersley signed a short-term contract with Hibs in September that year but his time in Leith was hindered by injury and he moved to Canadian side Edmonton in January 2016. He later returned to Scotland to play for St Mirren, Forfar and Airdrie.

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