“NO Raith Rovers players will be speaking today,” said the genuinely apologetic press officer at Stark’s Park on Saturday.
Twenty minutes had passed since the Fifers were relegated to League One.
The reason was obvious; chastened and devastated, no-one was enthused by the prospect of facing a bank of dictaphones to explain the inexplicable. Regardless of what the now-departed ‘Yogi’ may imply, these players do care.
However, bigger clubs than Raith have been relegated in the past and more substantial egos have been punctured. Generally, someone always fronts up. A senior player articulates the pain and seeks to comfort the supporters.
It rather sums up the rudderless nature of Rovers’ descent that
no-one did.
Raith have been battered into submission by a disastrous campaign. The confidence and belief dissipated under Gary Locke and, charged with arresting the malaise, Hughes stripped away much of the morale by regularly lambasting his players and seeming to distance himself from the failings in Fife. An uncertain summer of cost-cutting and forward planning now awaits as they prepare for life in the third tier.
Questions will be aimed at the board. Chief executive Eric Drysdale, who was unreachable when contacted yesterday, is a decent man who undoubtedly has the best interests of Rovers at heart. This, however, has been his annus horribilis.
Locke was an unpopular appointment that ultimately proved ill-judged and, after 14 matches without a win, they were in free-fall by February. A change was needed. But the right change.
Drysdale went out on a limb for Hughes, a stylistically odd fit from the start, given his commitment to passing football, and must carry the can for his abject failure.
His next appointment simply must be a good one.
Then there is the Lewis Vaughan debacle. A young home-grown attacker with uncommon flair and intelligence, if somewhat raw, who was allowed to join divisional rivals Dumbarton. He scored four goals for the Sons as they survived, yet must now return to a parent club in League 1. Farcical.
If there is to be a silver lining, it may come from their academy, with Craig Easton’s youth side winning the Development League East title and the likes of Yaw Osei, Ryan Stevenson and Jonny Court all looking the part.
In Easton, they have a diligent, popular young coach with a real force of personality. It would seem foolish not to consider him for the step-up alongside the likes of Stevie Aitken and Darren Young, who will be on Rovers’ radar.
Brechin, meanwhile, march on to the play-off final against Alloa after a staggering effort in Kirkcaldy.
Darren Dods’ part-time outfit led twice in normal time through Ross Caldwell and Alan Trouten but were pegged back on each occasion, with Jean-Yves M’voto and Declan McManus restoring parity – the latter coming with 92 minutes on the clock.
Their promotion dream appeared over when Ryan Hardie gave Rovers the lead in the first period of extra-time, but Liam Watt had other ideas as he curled a sumptuous free-kick into the top-corner from all of 30 yards after 115 minutes of action.
It was hard to grudge City their triumph as the tie was decided from the penalty spot, with Graeme Smith saving three kicks before Andy Jackson stroked home the winner.
“The attitude and fitness of some of these boys is unbelievable,” lauded penalty hero Smith.
“That is us at our best. To concede a last minute goal, then come back from behind in extra-time, was absolutely massive.”
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