The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Let’ s finish job’, says Rovers chief
Chief executive Andy Barrowman insists Raith Rovers are “only just getting started” as the new owners mark their first 12 months in charge.
Sunday was the first anniversary since the takeover formally completed on May 5 last year.
Barrowman and former Kelty Hearts chief Dean Mckenzie helped spearhead a local consortium which acquired a controlling stake in the Stark’s Park club from John Sim.
The group was completed by chairman Steven MacDonald, Colin Smart, Ruaridh Kilgour and Allan Halliday and came in with “extensive business and football leadership experience”, according to a statement at the time.
With John Potter also following Barrowman and Mckenzie from Kelty as technical director, the onfield results have helped the feel-good factor that has swept through the club at times this season.
A title challenge was not expected but has aided the off-field changes the new owners have made. After the 1-0 victory over Dundee United in December, Barrowman talked of a “movement” in a post on social media.
And he later backed up that positivity by claiming Raith were now “a different animal” and would continue to “come out swinging”.
Ultimately, the movement fell short on the pitch as Ian Murray’s side finished six points behind United at the summit of the Championship.
But the team is now preparing for a push for promotion via the play-offs, with Barrowman saying: “Let’s go and finish the job.”
No matter what happens, however, the CEO is adamant the current regime is determined to deliver success for Rovers.
“It’s been a really positive season up until this point,” Barrowman told Courier Sport. “We obviously want to go and finish that off – and achieve what we’re all here for.
“Undoubtedly, there’s been more successes than failures this season, that’s for sure – both on and off the pitch. But we’re only just getting started.
“It’s a year into the job and there’s still lots of work to be done. We’re still not anywhere near where we want to be.
“We just keep going, we keep doing the right things on a daily basis, and that’s from a football sense and a business sense.
“We always want to move forward.
“There’ll be a wee moment in the summer, whenever the season does come to an end, where we can reflect on the first year and the strides we’ve taken.
“Hopefully, we’ll be doing that as a Premiership club.
“But, at the moment, we’re all focused on the job in hand. Let’s go and finish it.”
Meanwhile, Rovers rediscovering their touch in front of goal has come at the right time as they prepare for the play-off semi-final against either Partick Thistle or Airdrieonians.
Rovers had suffered a bit of a drought of late in front of goal, scoring once in their previous three games, but a 5-0 win against relegated Arbroath will have boosted confidence.
The Gayfield men had leaked five goals twice in their previous three games – and Rovers made sure to make that a treble for Jim McIntyre’s doomed side.
A first-half double for Callum Smith earned him his first goals in five months.
The 24-year-old scored his seventh goal of the season against Partick in December, but had not found the net since.
Lewis Vaughan bagged his 17th and 18th of the campaign, both from the spot, in the second half to cap a fine performance.
After going seven games without a goal, he has three in three matches and looks re-energised ahead of the play-offs.
And Jack Hamilton adding a fifth meant Rovers’ three main strikers on the night all got on the score-sheet.
Zak Rudden is also to come back from injury, as well as Dylan Easton and Josh Mullin.