Football Season Guide

Raith Rovers will play their third successive season in League One, having twice failed to win promotion when it was expected of them. Indeed, they actually got worse last season, finishing in an uninspired third place behind Arbroath and Forfar – teams with significantly fewer resources. Despite this, Raith have chosen to stuck by manager John McGlynn, although this may be something of a face-saving exercise for the board, who worked so hard to get him back. In truth, his work from mid-October was no better than Barry Smith achieved before he quit over a dispute on player signings. The squad has had a clearout over the course of the summer, with the focus being on squad players departing. Indeed, actual first pick players going have been few and far between. Kevin Nisbet, who was so prolific last season, and whose goals kept Rovers’ season respectable, has departed and will be a player simply impossible to replace. With Liam Buchanan and Chris Duggan also going, Raith look short in attack, pitching much on Joao Vitoria, very erratic with his previous clubs, and the injury-prone but brilliant Lewis Vaughan. While the signings of Brad Spencer and Regan Hendry make for promise in midfield, particularly as Ross Matthews stays and the capable Grant Anderson has also arrived, they are very short of depth in that area and injuries and suspensions will be costly. In defence, meanwhile, the erratic duo of Iain Davidson and Kyle Benedictus remain, supplemented by Michael Miller and Kieran MacDonald, two players of modest League One ability and therefor rather strange signings. Fernandy Mendy has arrived from French football and is an unknown quantity. Rovers have done well to sign goalkeeper David McGurn, who will act as cover for long-term absentee Robbie Thomson. They could not have hoped for better in that regard.