The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘Let’s do it for Turnbull’, says Murray
RAITH R OV ER S manager Grant Murray is hopeful this evening’s Fife derby against Cowdenbeath will prove a fitting tribute to former chairman Tu rn bu l l Hutton, who passed away this week.
Murray, who was handed the manager’s role by Hutton following the departure of John McGlynn to Hearts in 2012, believes the sport has lost a true figurehead who always fought for the good of the game — for Raith and Scottish football as a whole.
He said: “It is a derby match, but football gets put to one side on occasions like this.
“Everyone all over Scottish football will have their thoughts for him and his family, especially over here in Fife.
“It would be fantastic to get three points in one of these derby matches that he loved and dedicate that to Turnbull.
“He was a character and a figurehead in Scottish football, particularly for Raith Rovers.
“I have a lot to personally thank him for, firstly as a player and then for giving me the opportunity to be the manager of his football club.”
Saturday’s defeat to Falkirk has seen Rovers slip out of the play-off reckoning, with 10 points now separating them from the fourth-placed Bairns.
However, Murray has no fears regarding his players’ motivation on an emotional evening in Kirkcaldy.
He added: “The season lasts from the first kick of the ball to the last kick of the ball, the players know that and we are approaching every game with the same focus.
“The moment you cross the line, there is plenty at stake for the players, individually and collectively. Winning breeds confidence and three points would give us a huge lift ahead of facing Rangers on Sunday.”
Liam Fox will miss out for Raith following his dismissal at Falkirk Stadium.
Cowdenbeath are going into the game on the back of a 3-0 win over Dumbarton.
Manager Ji m my Nicholl said: “It was a relief to be winning at half-time on Saturday and all I asked the boys to do was to see the game out.
“They did that and more by scoring two more goals and it was a great all round performance.
“Our strikers Kudus Oyenuga and Sean Higgins looked really lively and we also kept a clean sheet. The result has given us a real lift at a crucial time of the time of the season.
“It had been coming as we showed in our recent games against Falkirk that we were not far away and the fact that we defended set-pieces a lot better was a real boost.
“If we can go to Raith now and get a second win it would give us another terrific lift.”
Dean Brett, Lewis Milne and John Herron all remain out injured for the Blue Brazil.