Raith boss Gary Locke has admitted he is determined to bring quality not just quantity to his squad as his search for two new strikers continues.
The Stark’s Park manager is looking to bolster the forward department with just Mark Stewart and Lewis Vaughan left on the books after Ryan Hardie and Harry Panayiotou, who were on loan at Rovers last season, returned to their parent clubs.
Locke confessed that his search for reinforcements is proving difficult but he is going to take his time to add the right players.
And he revealed that the wait was one of the reasons former Raith player Grant Anderson joined Queen of the South earlier this week.
Locke said: “Grant was a bit of a strange one, to be honest.
“His contract was up so he was not a Raith player anymore. I had spoken to Grant’s agent and told him that my priority was bringing two new strikers in.
“Bobby Barr was signed before I came in and I had also tied up Chris Johnston so we have cover in Grant’s position out wide.
“However, I told his agent that once I had managed to bring in the strikers, if I had money left in the budget, then I would speak to Grant.
“The player himself, though, was at liberty to try to get another club which he has and he leaves with our very best wishes for the future.
“Meanwhile, my search for striking reinforcements continues and we are in talks with a few.
“Hopefully we will have some news in the next couple of weeks but it is difficult as there are obviously other clubs with more money also looking.
“But what I would say to supporters is that we will not just bring anybody in to make up the numbers. We are determined to get people with the right quality.
“We inherited a good squad that probably overachieved last season but we are looking to do that again next season.”
Locke is now also resigned to losing first-choice left-back Rory McKeown.
The Northern Irishman is out of contract and while the manager would like to bring him back for this season, it looks increasingly likely that the defender will be leaving for pastures new.
Locke said: “I have spoken to his agent and he says that Rory’s partner wants them to move back down south.
“Rory has been a fantastic player for Raith and we would have liked to keep him but it now looks as if that is another position we will have to fill.”
Locke is also looking to address the goalkeeping situation at the club with youngster Ross Laidlaw out of contract while veteran part-timer David McGurn is attracting interest from Arbroath and Cowdenbeath.
The manager said: “We are talking to Ross Laidlaw while David McGurn is part-time which is not ideal.
“We want to get the goalkeeping situation sorted out in the next couple of weeks and there are a few other clubs keen on David.”
The Raith players will meet up with their new manager as a squad for the first time on Monday when they return for pre-season training.
Locke added: “Hopefully the boys will come in and enjoy it.
“The days of players coming back and running up and down sand dunes until they are sick are long gone.
“I am certain the lads will all come back in good nick. One of the first things I did when I came in was to give them a fitness programme to work on during the off season.
“So there will fitness testing on Monday and a lot of hard work but the ball will be out as well and it should be enjoyable.”
