Brechin boss Darren Dods isn’t convinced Raith Rovers’ managerial uncertainty will help his team today.
Dods was as surprised as everyone else to see Barry Smith resign as manager of the Kirkcaldy club in the wake of what was, after all, a 4-0 home win over Forfar in their last League One match.
The Fifers haven’t yet appointed a replacement despite there being plenty of interest in the vacancy at Stark’s Park.
You would think that might help Brechin this afternoon at Glebe Park but Dods is not so sure.
“It can go two ways when a manager leaves a club,” he said.
“It can affect them badly but it can also galvanise the players to go out and do well.
“It was a bit of a shock to see Barry go, especially when you consider the results they had just before he left.
“It is unusual to have a manager leave after positive results and performances but that was the case with Barry and Raith.
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“What we have to remember, though, is that they are joint-top of our division and have a lot of very good players.
“Also, you have the likes of their coach Kevin Cuthbert – probably a manager in waiting, in my opinion – taking the team so he will have them well set up.
“So I’m not sure it (the managerial situation) will help us in this case.”
City have already recorded a fine result against the other joint-top team Arbroath, storming back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at Gayfield a fortnight ago.
Dods said: “It was good for our confidence to come back like that, especially when you consider how well Arbroath had been doing.
“We were up against it at one point but changed things at half-time and it worked.
“Callum Hendry combined well with Andy Jackson up front after coming on as a sub at the break and it was great to see Jacko get his two goals after all his injury problems.
“Now we are all looking forward to what will another very challenging match.”
