The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Boss’s delight as Baird signs short-term deal
John McGlynn is convinced John Baird can be a massive influence both on and off the pitch after he joined Raith Rovers for a third time on a short-term deal.
The 34-year-old left his role as player assistant at Forfar Athletic in the summer to move to Australia but is back in Scotland until he heads back Down Under in the new year.
The ex-Dundee, Partick Thistle and Falkirk striker has penned an agreement on amateur terms until January to be reunited with Rovers boss McGlynn.
Baird first joined Raith under McGlynn in 2010 for a two-year spell before returning in January 2014 for four months.
It was in his second stint at Stark’s Park that he wrote his name in the club’s history books with the extra-time goal that saw off Rangers to win the Ramsdens Cup for the Kirkcaldy outfit in April 2014.
And McGlynn believes the former fans’ favourite will bring so much more to the club on his return following his move into management.
The Raith boss said: “It’s a massive boost to get him at this time and, although it’s only for a few months until he goes back to Australia in January, I’m sure he’ll be very, very influential both on and off the pitch.
“He’s not only been a player, he was assistant manager at Forfar last season and he did very well in that role.
“He comes to us as a player but having the experience of having been on both the management side and the playing side he brings that to us as well, which is great.
“His goal-scoring record is phenomenal and he’s going to add loads of ammunition to our squad.”
Baird does not return from Australia until the start of next week so will not be available for this afternoon’s clash with Peterhead.
However, McGlynn believes the possibility of a first start in almost eight months for Lewis Vaughan will give Rovers another pick-me-up.
The 23-year-old made his comeback from a cruciate knee ligament injury in last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Falkirk in the Challenge Cup and is pushing for a starting berth today.
McGlynn added: “He did a lot in a very, very short period of time when he came on. It’s great to get him back and if anyone deserves an injury-free rest of the season it’s definitely Lewis Vaughan.”