San Starko Rover

To an extent I can see what Big Berk is getting at and correct me if I'm wrong he's not suggesting we go out and blow money we don't have as paying off our debt is obviously vital. He's basically saying we should be showing a bit more ambition to play better football and finish higher up the league with the budget we have. Where we finished last season and the poor football we played should really have been unacceptable to the board and us the fans we were outplayed and finished below teams who are far smaller than ourselves and in some ways I have to agree. While we don't have a large support it is bigger than Cowdenbeath, Alloa, Dumbarton and Livingston and probably on a par with Queen of the South and Morton regardless of our debt we should still be fielding a team that can play more attractive football and be able to try and fight for 4th in this league. Ok next season will be tougher but accepting avoiding relegation every season in a league with 3-4 smaller teams is a lack of ambition and we should be aiming higher, hoofball and relegation scraps will not see any more fans coming through the gates. I hope what Murray signs in the summer can address our style of play while getting results as the last 6 months was hardly entertaining for any of the non hard core supporters who might of wandered up to the odd game. The question I ask my self is could we have destroyed Dunfermline in the way Cowdenbeath did and the answer sadly is no and they have a tiny budget compared to ours which tells a pretty poor story of us last season. Hopefully we have a stronger squad this coming season and Murray has learned from last season.

The only thing that away top is clashing with is its self, can't see a big up take in them from the Morton faithful. Maybe it grows on you after a while but I doubt it still no as bad as the Scotland away shocker at the moment.

A cheeky wee hat-trick of signings in McGurn, Watson and Anderson would make my weekend brighter.

Spence given 5 year contract

could see Hill wanting a move if we sign Barr and Watson, can't see Spence wanting to stay unless Murray offers him first team football which he has done nothing to deserve and if we start the season with him up front I would be fairly worried.

No he's a Seaside league player surely

Put me down for the same camp Andy, thought I would be more bothered than I actually am that Baird and Cardle are away and if whats being said on here so are Spence and Smith (bothered) but in all honesty they were all part of a team that went 3/20 (a shocking record)and I would be more worried if we started the season with the same team than had a clear out. Did any of them really deserve a huge pay rise or long contracts? see who wants to stay and then let Murray bring in some fresh players his signings last season were mostly a decent standard and he has already brought in Barr, been highly critical of Murray but lets see who he brings in there are plenty of players around. If rumours are true he is releasing Spence and Smith he clearly has other players lined up.

Yup I would of been happy to keep him but he's not exactly Messi, he is a reasonable Championship striker who failed at a higher level nothing more. Yes he scored a few goals and gave us a great day against SEVCO but he was also part of the team that won 3 games in 20 (OK missed the first few games) a few goals hardly makes him irreplaceable. I would be really shocked if we can't find someone else who is on a par with Baird there are other strikers about. Can't see us starting the season with Spence, Elliot and Smith if we did it would prove Murray has no idea what he is doing I doubt he is that clueless. After the run last season virtually none of our team are irreplaceable. Lets see who the board bring in before we start hitting the panic button still early days see who stays and then hopefully Murray can look for players to improve the squad. Baird left once we were fine without him we will be fine again.

Says he can play Centre Midfield as well so quite versatile which is definitely what we need, hopefully Booth's replacement (Will be back at Hibs I think) rather than Cardle if true.

Friendly against York City at Starks http://www.raithrovers.net/14775/first-friendly-for-1415.htm

Agree with this was hopeful for Donaldson but never quite looked good enough to break into the first team thought the loan move would help and it might of had we not had to recall him, for me he will never make more than a first division Championship back up player so understand moving him on he probably wants first team football and won't get it for us. 38 games for RRFC is hardly a failure of our youth system yes we should be producing more and selling them on but in Donaldson's case he played his part for the first team but just didn't quite make it no disgrace in that and did a job for us. Wish him all the best at Peterhead. Would say Ross County is unlikely wanted to move South last season but Dundee is possible (Yes I know its still North before some smart arse says it ) but he could play there without having to move house and with a new child its more likely than County. Would prefer to keep him but I think he will aim higher than Raith and will get a better offer although I thought the same of Moon and was delighted to hear we kept him so who knows. ETA Stupid new name of our Division (Will eventually get it right)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This Cowdenbeath deserve to stay up played some great stuff and the Townies deserve at least another season in the seaside league after cheating for years being kept down by Cowdenbeath would also irritate them massively and allow Cowdenbeath a wee gloat. Playing the Townies is great and means a decent crowd but 1 season in the seaside league isn't enough for years of cheating especially when they were quite happy to throw money around (they didn't have) to stop us winning the league and take away our year in the SPL so let them rot Cowdenbeath and their fans deserve the payday.

Why have we resigned Fox? definitely one I thought we would have moved on. Happy with Barr and Elliot, wasn't bothered either way with Thomson and delighted we have signed Moon thought he was out the door, great to see him staying.

New signing to be announced at 9P.M? from RRFC Facebook

Looking forward to watching this Cup final without one of the terrible two there the Perth v Dundee thing should add a bit of spice and hopefully St Johnstone can bring through a good support for their first Scottish Cup final. Would quite like to see Dundee Utd win this one as they have a lot of good youngsters comming through and have sent us a few in the past to help us out but no doubt St Johnstone will give them a great game if May has his scoring boots on. Win, Lose or Draw this should be a great final and one for fans of football hope both sets of fans enjoy their day out, Good luck to you both

Is it a temp job for this season the 500 seats or more long term ? "It is the first phase of bringing the Railway Stand back into us." This sounds like they intend to do the rest of the stand at a later date

It's a tough one for the board while it would be nice to have the stand back I can see Huttons point about not needing it until we see the South stand full. I guess as you say the work is paying for it's self or Turnball is sick of hearing about it maybe

Didn't take it that way Andy was more the fact I was offering all problems and no solutions (I'm good at that) Can we kidnap Ian Murray from Dumbarton and hope they don't notice?

You are quite right to ask the question Andy as is anyone who disagrees with me but I won't even try to claim to have the answer to that one but I think we will have to change and would rather look now giving a a new manager the transfer window than trying to bring someone in when we are bottom. I would love to be wrong but I just don't think Murray has it I'm afraid and it gives me no pleasure to say that.

I agree with you about hating chopping and changing managers as it doesn't normally do anything to help a club and if Murray were a proven manager I would probably say give him next season but Murray is a new manager and has no history of being a manager to make me think he is capable of better and things will change this was the gamble. We have been owned by some pretty average and poor teams this season and are probably lucky to have as many points as we do (Dive against Cowdenbeath, Kirk missing a sitter for Alloa, a McGurn master class at QofS, Getting the penalty against Morton among others) How many games have we played well in? too many of our results have been scrappy even at the start. I honestly think we would all love Murray to be the man and turn us around but I can't see it from what I have seen and his sound bites and quotes make me question if he even thinks there is anything to turn around. So I ask myself will he last until Christmas and the answer sadly is no, we can't deal with Alloa, Dumbaton and Cowdenbeath so Rangers, Hearts and Kilmarnock/Hibs will destroy us on their day. So the choice is give him the transfer window and pray we are all wrong and then probably pay him off getting someone new in to turn around his team which could be in Morton's position or Get someone more capable in now and give them the chance to build a team to compete. For me it's the latter I'm afraid. I would rather pay off debts and get players but I can't see us not having to sack Murray before Christmas so I would change now and give someone else the whole season next season will be tough enough we can't have the kind of form we have seen since November or we will be relegated by the New Year.

This says everything Murray needs to go, a Ramsden's cup win doesn't make up for this record

We have shipped goals for fun this season so something has to change at the back and I would keep Watson over Hill, agree with Vaughan and Callaghan should be tied down to long term deals but will the board offer long term deals? Elliot was good first half but since he returned from injury do you think he has played well enough what's his cards - goals ratio? he's been out scored by Spence so hardly the first name on the team sheet . I would keep him if there isn't better about but we should look. We haven't been good enough this year so we need changes keeping almost the same starting 11 isn't going to change anything.

McGurn - Sign Laidlaw - Undecided wasn't good enough to cover this year is he good enough for next year Robinson - If we don't keep Laidlaw offer No2 Booth - Would sign if we could but he will be at Hibs Hill - liability too many red cards but could stay as 3rd choice as he is P/T but not a starting player Watson - Sign Thomson - Undecided see what else is available Donaldson - Sign, Still young, not 1st choice for any position but can cover several we need versatile back up players Ellis - Needs to hang his boots up Cardle - Sign Moon - Sign Fox - Can leave Callachan - Sign give another year see how he develops Anderson - Undecided see what else is available Baird - Sign Elliot - Undecided see what else is available also too much back chat to referee's Spence - P/T or leave Smith - Undecided see what else is available Vaughan - Sign give another year see how he develops I can see Baird signing had two chances at the top level and failed only cubs at the top of our league would tempt him in my opinion and can't see Falkirk/Hamilton going for him and Dundee already had him his best chance of top division football is now probably to try and get Raith there. Keep the spine of McGurn, Watson, Moon,and Baird with Cardle on the wing and build around that. The other positions see what is available and sign anything we can improve on what we have if there isn't better resign the players. Obviously this is down to us keeping the 5 but I think we should try to keep these 5 to build around. Have a strong starting 11 but we need a few players who are versatile if we don't have a large squad.