Ahead of the big Scottish league kick-off this weekend, most of the hype has focused on the Premiership and the “box-office” draw of Celtic under Brendan Rodgers and the return to the top tier of a resurgent Rangers.
However, Raith boss Gary Locke insists that the Championship should be just as big a draw in terms of excitement and he cannot wait for the campaign to begin in earnest at the home of newly-promoted Ayr United tomorrow afternoon.
And the 41-year-old believes that such is the quality in the division, there is definitely a convincing case for expanding the Premiership.
Locke said: “This league is going to be difficult – but you’ve got to aim high, there is no point being negative.
“It will be a really tough league. In my opinion, every team is capable of beating each other and that makes it a really exciting prospect.
“It’s just about who will emerge as the most consistent and we need to make sure that is us.
“I think this could be as exciting as the Premiership. If you look through the Championship, I think every team could go up and hold their own in the top flight. I don’t think there is any doubt about that.
“That is why we should be looking at making the league bigger. Everyone is calling for it so I don’t see any reason why we are not looking more closely at it.
“Anyone can see there are a lot of massive clubs in this division – Hibs, Dundee United, Dunfermline, ourselves and Falkirk – I think it will be hugely competitive and we can’t wait to get started.”
That desire to get going in the Championship is intensified by the fact that Rovers lost their last game in the Betfred League Cup at home to Alloa.
Locke is looking for a big response from his players tomorrow at Ayr where he knows as a former Kilmarnock manager he is assured of a “warm” welcome.
He added: “We need to bounce back from the Alloa defeat quickly because the Championship was always the most important thing and we know we’ve got a really difficult start.
“Ayr are a big club with a good fanbase and we know they’ll put us under pressure. They have a couple of lads who have played in the Premiership so it won’t be easy.
“I’ve been down to Somerset Park with several clubs and it has always been tough and a real battle.
”You can’t change your past and, being a former Kilmarnock manager, I’m sure I’ll get plenty of stick, but it will be good natured. And if they are giving me pelters, then it probably means my players are doing well.
“With having Darren (Jackson) beside me in the dugout, we get stick pretty much every ground we go to!
”It’s certainly not a problem for me and something I can handle. I’ve been to Easter Road with my Hearts background and handled that, so I’ll be able to deal with whatever happens and focus on my team on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Locke will definitely be without the injured Craig Barr, who is suffering from a pelvic problem for the Ayr match while there is a doubt over Iain Davidson.
The manager said: “Craig is struggling. He has had a bit of a setback and will need to go to see a specialist to get to the root of his problem.
“It is a similar injury for Craig, but on the other side. He has had a really bad run and a lot of really bad luck, but we are acutely aware that is just part of the game and we need to get on with it.
“Davo also has a bit of a problem, so we have a couple of injury worries heading into the weekend.
“I wouldn’t say he is definitely out of the Ayr game, but he didn’t train on Thursday morning and we will revisit the situation on Friday. If he is toiling, then he’ll miss out.”
