Football Season Guide

Raith Rovers suffered a shock relegation from the Championship at the end of last season and face the difficult task of bouncing back at the first time of asking. The Fife outfit saw manager John Hughes depart at the end of the season, with Barry Smith coming into the hotseat. It promises to be an awkward task as they have been forced to cut their squad quite substantially, with no fewer than 11 players departing in the summer. They saw goalkeepers Conor Brennan and Pavol Penksa both leave, although the experienced Kevin Cuthbert remains, while centre-backs Craig Barr and Jean-Yves M'voto also departed, leaving the new manager to construct an entirely new rearguard. Other areas of the side have not been so badly hit, although Rudi Skacel and Mark Stewart in midfield and attack respectively were two of their most experienced players. Raith have responded by adding only four players to their ranks over the summer months. Goalkeeper Aaron Lennox has arrived from Aberdeen, while centre-back Euan Murray joins from Southport, with the indications being that they are largely ready to lean on their younger players for support over the course of the coming campaign. Kyle Benedictus will be the leader of this area of the team, though. Meanwhile, that is not the case in attack, where they have signed Greig Spence and Liam Buchanan, two players who are proven goal getters at this standard. Finding the net should not be an issue. In midfield, they also have a unit that looks strong, with Bobby Barr their outstanding creative force. Meanwhile, Ross Callachan is the captain in the centre of the field, despite being only 23, with the experienced Scott Robertson and Iain Davidson both available alongside him. Such is the lack of depth in defence, however, Davidson has been used as a centre-back at times. This is the one area of the side where their lack of depth could really cost them but the loan market could prove an escape route.