BY ALAN TEMPLE & IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_Sport
FORMER Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss John Hughes has been named the new manager of Raith Rovers.
The 52-year-old, who has also enjoyed stints in charge of Falkirk, Livingston and Hartlepool, has been out of work since leaving Caley Thistle at the end of last season.
Hughes’ appointment was confirmed this afternoon (Friday), with his first match in charge set to be against another of his former clubs, Hibernian, next weekend.
He has signed a deal until the end of the season.
He said: “First and foremost, I’m absolutely delighted to be here. It’s a fantastic club, Raith Rovers.
“The reason I say that is because through all my playing career and managerial career I’ve come up against them and I’ve always enjoyed coming over to Fife.
“They’re good people, made of the right stuff, over here in Fife, and full of enthusiasm.
“And when I started talking to [chief executive] Eric [Drysdale] and the chairman [Alan Young} I could see the love they had for their club and that they wanted the best for their club.
“That really stuck out to me, their enthusiasm to make sure that I was definitely coming here.
“My agent Raymond Sparkes said ‘you need to speak to these guys, they’re right up your street’.
“And after speaking to them I can’t wait to get started. I’ve been out of the game for a while but it’s the right time for me.
“It has to be the right fit and at this moment in time Raith Rovers and John Hughes fit together.”
‘Yogi’ replaces Gary Locke, who was dismissed on Tuesday evening following a 1-0 defeat to Morton – a 14th successive match without a victory.
Rovers are now just four points above Ayr United in the relegation play-off position after six straight league defeats.
