BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
CHIEF executive Eric Drysdale insists he is happy Raith Rovers will have to make two gruelling trips north in the Betfred Cup – as it could prove to be a lucky omen.
The Stark’s Park outfit were drawn in the same group as Cove Rangers and Ross County and found out yesterday they will have to face both teams away from home.
Gary Locke’s side open their Group D campaign against Highland League champions Cove on Saturday, July 16, and – after a Tuesday fixture at home to Montrose – will have to travel to Dingwall to face County on the following Sunday.
With a home tie against Alloa Athletic on July 30 concluding the group phase, the draw could have been kinder to the Kirkcaldy club.
However, Drysdale is remaining positive after seeing echoes in the fixtures from when Rovers won the League Cup with a famous win against Celtic back in 1994.
He said: “That’s what you call the luck of the draw. There are some clubs who have commented on unfavourable aspects of it, but it is a draw at the end of the day.
“With regards to the Ross County fixture, I’m quite glad we are going there because in 1994 our campaign started off away at Ross County.
“The final in ’94 was on November 27 – and the final this year is on the same date.”
The grounds to be used for Cove’s home games have not yet been announced, with the Aberdeen-based club playing all of their matches on the road as they await construction of a new stadium.
