Johnston starts work immediately on building new nucleus as Queens survive

Queen of the S outh ensured t h a t t h e y wo u l d r e ma i n i n the Championship by p lay - ing out a goalless draw with Raith Rover sat Palmer st on, but manager Allan Johnston did not celebrate for long as he may need to build a new team.

The Do on ham er sled 3-1 from Wednesday night’s first meeting and, after seeing out an opening burst of activity by the Kirkcaldy side, Queens’ only contracted player for next season, Stephen Dobbie, sent a shot against the woodwork.

The Dumfries side saw the game out without too many scares and Johnston said: “It was a professional performance with lots of good play. Raith caused us problems in the first game but after a frantic first 15 minutes we settled down”

“We should have had a couple of goals, but I am hoping that we take confidence from how well we have done in these games.”

As for next season, Johnston said: “The Championship is a hard league but when you have the goals that Stephen brings then it should not have come to the play-offs. We have loan players returning to their parent clubs and other boys who are leaving after signing pre-contract agreements.”

“We will look to keep a good nucleus and the work on that starts now.” Before the break, Lyndon Dykes, who is heading to Livingston, had an effort cleared off the line by the visiting Kyle Benedictus and in the second half Raith goalkeeper Dean Lyness denied Barry Maguire before Dobbie fired wide.

Raith also threatened at the end through Liam Buchanan. However, they will spend a third season in League 1.

Manager John Mcglynn, pictured, said: “We had them pushed back early on, but we really needed to get a goal. It is disappointing not to be promoted, but we will go again next season.”