McHattie and Barr leave Rovers as rebuild begins

Kevin McHattie and Bobby Barr have left Raith Rovers as the League 1 outfit begin preparations for a renewed promotion push next term.

Former Hearts and Kilmarnock defender, McHattie, a boyhood Rovers fan hailing from Glenrothes, made 48 appearances after arriving at Stark’s Park in the summer of 2016.

However, he saw much of his spell at the club plagued by fitness woes, with the 24-year-old forced to undergo two operations to cure a persistent groin complaint, while he suffered a knee injury at the start of this season.

Barr, meanwhile, bagged nine goals in 76 appearances for the Fifers after joining the club from Morton two years ago.

After enduring relegation from the Championship in his first season at Stark’s Park, Barr struggled to cement a starting berth under Barry Smith this term, albeit finding the net seven times as they missed out on the League 1 title by a single point.

The former Livingston, Brechin and Albion Rovers man has now chosen to pursue options elsewhere after his deal expired.

Barr tweeted: “All the best to Raith Rovers. Not been the couple of years I wanted, but a great club with good people.”

The departure of the duo kicks off what promises to be a hectic summer of business in Kirkcaldy, with the vast majority of their playing squad now out of contract.

It is understood that only David McKay, Ross Matthews, Lewis Vaughan and Liam Buchanan have deals in place for next season.