Brian Scott, one of Scottish sports journalism's most respected figures, has died at the age of 82. The former Daily Mail columnist enjoyed a long and distinguished career before retiring several years ago, and is survived by his wife Myra, daughter Lara, and sons Cammy and Roddy.
Known for his scrupulous fairness and honesty, Scott was regarded as a true wordsmith whose humble nature belied his talent. He would agonise over every word he wrote before declaring himself moderately satisfied, and rarely referred to himself in the first person, believing it to be a form of arrogance.
A veteran of multiple World Cup and European Championship tournaments, Scott earned the respect of many managers and players over several decades, from Jock Stein to Martin O'Neill, and from Willie Waddell to Rangers' more recent managers. Even when they disagreed with his assessments, his reputation for fair play ensured grudges were short-lived.
Born in Dundee and raised in Edinburgh, Scott was a lifelong Hearts fan who followed the club's fortunes without ever showing bias. He also served as President of the Scottish Football Writers' Association for three years, and was known for welcoming nervous newcomers to press rooms with kind words and encouragement.
Tributes have poured in from colleagues, including Jim Black, who recalled more than half a century of friendship and their shared enjoyment of red wine. Black noted the poignancy of Scott not living to see the culmination of this season's championship race, suggesting a Hearts title would be a fitting tribute to the man.
