McGlynn relishing his return to management

John McGlynn insists the last three weeks have shown him he made the right choice in leaving Celtic to return to management with Raith Rovers.

The former Hearts and Livingston boss admitted he had missed the day-to-day responsibilities of the training pitch during his more glamorous stint as a scout with the Hoops.

The 56-year-old took over from Barry Smith at Stark’s Park last month and won the first match of his second stint in charge of the Kirkcaldy club with a 5-1 hammering of Dumbarton.

The 1-1 draw with League One leaders Arbroath the last time out was a different experience for the returning manager, but he insists he is relishing being back at the “coal face”.

He said: “It’s been everything I was hoping it would be, coming back into management.

“I said at the time I was really excited to be back planning training, coming in to training, getting the guys going.

“It’s been great. I’ve had a good reaction from the players, they seem to be enjoying things.

“I’ve been in for three weeks and had two games, and I’ve learned a lot in a very, very short period of time.

“And I’ve worked on a lot in a short period of time.

“But there’s a lot more work to get done.”

Raith had to come back from a goal down against Arbroath a fortnight ago to prevent McGlynn tasting defeat in just his second match in charge.

Kevin Nisbet’s late equaliser grabbed a point after Bobby Linn’s opener 11 minutes from time, and stopped the Lichties from opening a seven-point lead at the top of the division.

After a whirlwind return to the club, where he served for six years until leaving for Hearts in 2012, McGlynn could give his players time off last weekend.

But he insists the hours they have spent at training in the last two weeks, ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Stranraer, were well spent.