Kevin McHattie saw first-hand how Gary Locke coped with the living nightmare of administration and a club in crisis when he was manager at Hearts.
So the full-back has no doubts whatsoever that his boss is eminently capable of steering present side Raith back to winning ways.
Rovers started the Championship season well but have lost their way a little with defeats in their last two league games.
However, McHattie, who has also worked under Locke at Kilmarnock, believes that mini-slump will end soon, hopefully at home this afternoon against Dumbarton.
The 23-year-old defender said: “I worked with the gaffer at Hearts and there was the administration side of things.
“He’s been through the worst of the worst and he’s managed to pull players through.
“So he will definitely get the boys through a slump if it happens. You would assume it would happen at some point during a season.
“But I have every faith in the manager and so do all the players.”
McHattie added: “Getting back to winning ways is obviously the main aim this week especially as we are at home.
“Dumbarton isn’t what I would class an easy game but they aren’t one of the bigger teams in the league.
“So it is important we get a win at Stark’s Park.
“The league we are in is very competitive and there are strong teams throughout the division.
“Ayr took three points against Hibs at Easter Road last week which just shows anything can happen in this league.”
McHattie admitted that Raith have had a tough set of fixtures to start the league campaign and despite the last couple of defeats, they had coped well and are still sitting third in the table.
Now, though, he has called for a back-to-basics approach to return to winning ways.
He said: “We have had a hard start to the season playing the likes of Dunfermline, Falkirk, Queen of the South and going down to Ayr for the first game of the season.
“It has been a tough start and we just need to get back to basics with everyone working hard as a team, being compact and hard to score against.
“Hopefully, the goals will come for us and the three points will follow.”
McHattie grew up supporting Raith along with the rest of his family but he insists that does not bring any extra pressure when he pulls on a Rovers shirt, saying: “No, not really. I just go out and try to do my best every week.
“That’s what the manager wants everyone to do – give 110%.
“So I don’t think there is any extra pressure on myself with my family watching.
“I just get on with it and focus on the game.”
