BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
RAITH Rovers have announced they have turned down two bids from Dundee United for supporters’ player of the year Lewis Toshney.
After being recruited by the Kirkcaldy club last summer, the 24-year-old was last season a firm favourite of former manager Ray McKinnon, who left to join old team United following the end of the campaign.
With the Tangerines boss seeking to rebuild at Tannadice, he has attempted to return to Stark’s Park to again secure the services of the ex-Celtic and Dundee defender, who penned a one-year extension to his contract in Fife back in January.
However, the Rovers directors have so far rebuffed United in a bid to hang on to Toshney.
A statement said: “The board of directors of Raith Rovers FC announces that it has this evening (Thursday) rejected a second, increased bid from Championship rivals Dundee United FC for defender Lewis Toshney.”
Meanwhile, new Raith Rovers manager Gary Locke has admitted he is weighing up a move for Mark Connolly after running the rule over the freed Kilmarnock skipper in pre-season training.
The 24-year-old has teamed up with the former Rugby Park manager for a trial at Raith after being released by Killie at the end of last term.
The former Crawley Town defender has not played since December after suffering a knee problem and then having surgery on a hip injury but has declared himself fit.
Locke has also handed training facilities to ex-Dundee United striker Jordan Moore, who is on the hunt for a new club after leaving Irish club Limerick.
Locke, who is keen to recruit two new strikers, has revealed he is keen for both trialists to prove their fitness in the coming days.
He said: “They’re in training. Obviously, you bring them in for a reason, because you think they’re decent players.
“In terms of Mark Connolly, i know him well and I just wanted to get him in to have a look at him, fitness-wise.
“Jordan Moore is difficult. (Assistant) Darren (Jackson) obviously knows him and we promised him training facilities.
“He needs to get himself fit, so that’s as far as that one will go at the moment.
“But we’ve got a couple of lads coming in next week, so we’ll have a look at them next week and see what happens.”
