Raith chief executive Eric Drysdale has explained why Maurice Malpas left the club last week.
The former Dundee United legend joined Rovers six months ago as director of football, helping the previous management team of Grant Murray and Laurie Ellis.
However, shortly before new boss Ray McKinnon was appointed, the club issued a statement saying: “Director of Football Maurice Malpas is stepping down from his position.
“The board of directors would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Maurice for the advice and support he has given the board, Grant Murray and Laurie Ellis over the last six months.”
Drysdale admitted that with McKinnon being an experienced manager, there was no longer a pressing need for a director of football.
The chief executive said: “Maurice was only here first of all to support Grant Murray when there was a bit of a difficult period last season and then to help us with the transition after Grant left.
“Obviously, Ray has come in and he’s an experienced guy in his own right, so it’s only correct he is given free rein to take the club forward in the direction he wants to go in.”
When asked if it was Malpas’s decision to step down, Drysdale admitted: “You can call it mutual consent, if you like. It was just a natural parting of the ways.”