Smith facing challenge to sort out Raith squad

NEW Raith boss Barry Smith admits he faces a race against time to have a full squad in place before the start of pre-season.

The 43-year-old was f ormally unveiled as the new Stark’s Park manager on Tuesday afternoon, tasked with taking the club back up to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Following this season’s relegation he has only seven recognised first-team players under contract: Kevin Cuthbert, Kyle Benedictus, Ross Matthews, Ross Callachan, Bobby Barr, Mark Stewart and Lewis Vaughan.

He will begin trying to bolster his roster before training starts i n earnest in just three weeks.

“I am a worker. That’s one thing the fans and the players will get to know — I work hard in whatever job I do, and this will be no different,” he said.

“We will all have to work hard to make sure we are up there challenging for promotion because it is a tough league.

“We will try to add some quality to the players we already have under contract.

“If we do that we should be in the right place.

“I haven’t spoken to any of the players yet as I thought it was best to leave it until everything was official.

“So I will be trying to speak to them all, over the next couple of days, just to see what their thoughts are as well.

“We need to get a squad assembled for pre-season training that starts in three weeks’ time.

“That’s the priority but it is going to be challenging.”

Smith will also have to put together his back-room team, and is looking for versatility.

He added: “I am talking to a few people.”

Blair Spittal could be on the move.