Two summers ago the Raith Board of Directors got the managerial appointment spectacularly right when hiring Ray McKinnon and his backroom team. Last summer they got it spectacularly wrong. Gary Locke’s track record was shaky at best, but he was able to dazzle the interview panel with mitigating circumstances as to why his record was so poor. This summer the Raith Board cannot afford to get it wrong, with a serious challenging season ahead financially, regaining the club’s Championship status at the first attempt is critical.
Raith’s last foray into Scotland’s third tier was after the 2004/2005 campaign when the Claude Anelka experiment blew up, Gordon Dalziel took on the John Hughes role of stealing a wage and washing his hands of any responsibility of relegation. Four seasons passed before Raith finally clawed their way out of the old Second Division as title winners after botching the playoffs the previous two seasons.
The big difference between then and now is the financial consequences. The difference between a mid table First Division side and a mid table Second Division side was negligible. Since 2012 that difference is around £170k. A huge hole to fill in a clubs accounts. This is why it is vitally important to win promotion back at the first attempt. The last few seasons in the Championship there has been very few full-time clubs. Next season Ayr, Airdrie and Raith will all gamble on full time football, with only two potential spots for promotion, at least one of those sides will miss out and take a financial hit as a consequence.
Who should Raith appoint? That is the big question, the quality of candidate will obviously be taken down a notch after relegation. Do they appoint someone with a track record at this level or gamble on a manager with no experience in management at all. Early front-runners mentioned in the press at least are Darren Young and Billy Stark, who recently left Albion Rovers and Craig Easton, who impressed many in his first full season as Development coach at Starks, winning the Development League East (twice, if you count the dodgy arithmetic).
Darren Young and Billy Stark leave Albion Rovers as the most successful pairing the club has ever had. Out performed expectations in the league and some decent cup scalps along the way. His late season form was a tad underwhelming and a credible escape route for both club and manager was available with the failure to agree new terms. The major plus points that a Young and Stark appointment would bring is the fact they have worked together, unlike Locke and Jackson. They also have a reassuring mix of youth and experience. Young is obsessive about management and his results have been impressive, and Stark along side him provides guidance and vast experience. That can only be a positive. Stark would also be fantastic in guiding Craig Easton and Raith’s youth development plan. Upscaling part-time success to a full-time stage is not a given however, most recently Ian Murray struggled to replicate part-time Dumbarton results with full-time St Mirren. Young and Stark will get a chance somewhere, Rovers could do a lot worse than giving them their shot.
Craig Easton is the most credible candidate from within the club that can step up to the managerial role. A successful season guiding Raith’s youngsters to a title win and a tireless work ethic makes him a worthwhile choice. With Rovers also expected to use the under 20’s as an integral part of the squad to plug the holes vacated by the reduced squad numbers from last season, a knowledge of what these players can do might be a massive advantage. Rovers have had a remarkable amount of success of giving managers their first gig in football. Since 1990 they have allowed 6 men to start their managerial careers, and only two have failed to win a trophy (Anelka and Hetherston). Jimmy Nicholl, Antonio Calderon, John McGlynn and Grant Murray all picked up silverware in that time, indeed the only trophies Raith won in that period. On that basis appointing from within might not necessarily be a bad option.
I suspect that these might be the two favoured options for Raith next season, a ready made managerial team from outwith proved successful when McKinnon was appointed, so Young and Stark already bring less risk than Gary Locke’s approach of rummaging through old Hearts team photo’s to identify an assistant. The board know the capabilities, attitude, work ethic and likeable nature of Easton. Supported by other experienced members of the squad like Kevin Cuthbert (if he stays obviously) for example, who has spoke really well recently and showed leadership and honesty in the face of adversity. Cuthbert could also fill in as a Goalkeeper coach, as one of the first cuts to be made was to release Wayne Henderson. If Easton is indeed appointed I wouldn’t be surprised to see John McGlynn (who appeared at Brechin) appointed in an advisory role. The board admitted that not controlling the recruitment choices of Gary Locke as a major failing, and a buffer and a conduit between manager and board might be the way forward. McGlynn knows about youth development and currently working as scout for Celtic, he will have enough contacts and goodwill to help out with recruitment. He also clearly has an affiliation with the club. Another hard working individual who can fill a number of roles, flexibility might be the way forward to make a tight budget go a long way.
cbirch27 