Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn has expressed his delight after conducting a double piece of signing business.
The Stark’s Park gaffer has managed to persuade club captain Grant Murray to stay on at Rovers and he has also snapped up former Livingston and Leicester winger Joe Hamill.
Murray had been weighing up his options after a season which ended in desperate disappointment as Raith missed out on promotion to Fife rivals Dunfermline.
The resulting budget constraints saw 15 players being axed by the club, while those remaining were forced to take wage cuts.
Murray, who will turn 36 in August, wanted time to make his mind up about whether to stay on reduced terms and having been in Largs last week completing SFA coaching badges, he has now signed a new deal.
McGlynn admitted he was pleased with Murray’s decision, as well as his capture of Hamill, whom he knows from their time at Hearts together.
“We have signed Joe Hamill from Livingston on a two-year deal,” he said last night.
“He is a player I have known for a number of years and he is a good, skilful footballer. He can play right across the midfield and he will bring a lot of quality to the team.”
He added, “I am also delighted to announce that Grant Murray has decided to stay at the club.
“He put pen to paper at lunchtime today on a two-year deal. I believe he has at least another good couple of years left in him.”‘Vital’ to teamHe added, “Grant is a first-rate professional and he played nearly every minute of every game for us last season.
“He has taken a pay cut to continue at the club, which shows his commitment to Rovers.
“He is vital in the dressing-room and plays a great role bridging the gap with the younger players, making them welcome and offering advice both on and off the park.
“Grant is a big influence and a role model at this club.”
McGlynn admitted he is also trying to bring a couple of players in on loan from SPL sides but he will not know whether he has been successful until he returns from holiday at the end of next week.
Meanwhile, Rovers have announced a hike in ‘walk up’ admission prices for the forthcoming league campaign.
The Kirkcaldy club said it had done all it could to minimise the rise but admitted last January’s VAT and ongoing cost inflation had made the decision inevitable.
Adult gate prices will now be set at £17, with parent and child tickets costing £20, and entry for juniors and senior citizens costing £9.
Student concessions cost £13, jobseekers £9, and disabled person and carer concessions have been set at £9, with the carer admitted free.
The pre-school concession is free.
A spokesperson for the club said, “We have particularly tried to keep our parent and child rate as low as we can, recognising that we need to do all we can to help attract the next generation of Rovers fans to the thrills and excitement of first division football at Stark’s Park.”
The club’s limited-period ‘Early Bird’ season ticket offer, which has season tickets set at discounted prices, will still be available until June 30.