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JOHN Hughes insists the Raith Rovers squad will know exactly what is expected of them when he makes his Stark’s Park debut against old club Hibs this weekend.
The former Inverness Caley Thistle and Falkirk boss was named successor to Gary Locke on Friday and will take a high-profile bow in the dugout against the Championship leaders on Saturday.
He began working with the players he has inherited at the club’s Glenrothes training base on Monday and was reunited with a few familiar faces from his previous stints as manager.
And the 52-year-old is determined he will be able to spark a turnaround in fortunes in a team that has not won in 14 matches stretching back to October.
He said: “I have to instantly analyse and see what I’ve got, to pick a team and a system I think can go and bring success here.
“And that will be one game at a time.
“I’ve worked with Mark Stewart, he was a young kid with me at Falkirk and I gave him his debut. I’ve worked with big Craig Barr and Bobby Barr at Livingston.
“It’s up to me to get the best out of these guys and ensure they know what they’re getting.
“I need to get in to the players and say ‘let’s calm down, this is what it’s all about’.
“Every one will know exactly where they stand and what I expect of them.”
COMMUNITY
Hughes has penned a contract for the remainder of the season but has insisted he is open to staying on beyond the summer.
And, despite the short-term nature of his initial agreement, the former Falkirk, Celtic and Hibs defender has plans to spark a revival off the pitch at Stark’s Park as well.
He added: “It’s about the community of Kirkcaldy and round about here.
“It’s like any club I’ve been to, from Falkirk to Inverness, it’s important we don’t see those Celtic and Rangers buses going to Parkhead and Ibrox.
“We need to get those kids coming here to watch Raith Rovers.
“You know how we do it? If they’re seeing success on the pitch. If they see that they’ll come along.
“It’s our job to get these next generation supporters coming along to watch our club.”
