Mcglynn hails ‘weight off the shoulders’

John Mcglynn admits the decision reached by the SFA’S arbitration panel has lifted a ‘weight off the shoulders’ of Raith Rovers.

The Stark’s Park club were granted the League One title and promotion to the Championship when last season was called in March. They have since been left sweating over the legal battle launched by Hearts and Partick.

Mcglynn has sympathy for old club Hearts and believes every club would have taken action had they been on the wrong end of a decision to relegate them prematurely.

But the Rovers boss now has reason to celebrate as he looks forward to taking his team into the second-tier next season.

He said: “This is a weight off our shoulders because this has been hanging over us, which has not been great for a considerable period now.

“It’s been a frustrating time and we know it’s been difficult for everyone that’s been involved in this. But, thankfully, for us, we’ve come out with the right decision and we can look forward to the Championship.

“It gives us the clarity we’ve been waiting on, so it makes it a lot easier for everyone at the club with regards planning, whether that’s season tickets or making signings or getting the stadium ready for playing in the Championship.

“We’ve been on tenterhooks ever since Hearts announced they were taking legal action, then going to court and then going to arbitration, and now this.

“We’re not going to get ourselves onto open-top buses or anything like that but we might allow ourselves a wee glass of wine to savour this.”

Rovers chairman Bill Clark admits relief is the overriding emotion. He said: “The length of time this has been going on has just been ridiculous but relief was the first emotion, I would say.

“I’ve looked at the judgment and Hearts and Partick Thistle lost on every count.

“There was absolutely no prejudice involved, either from the SPFL or from the club.

“And this outcome justifies the action we took as a club. We can now look forward to the Championship with certainty.”

John Mcglynn: “Clarity we’ve been waiting on.”