Raith Rovers’ chief executive Eric Drysdale has added his voice to growing calls for their William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against St Johnstone to be shown live on TV.
Saints boss Tommy Wright has already expressed his opinion that the fixture at Stark’s Park was the pick of the last eight ties and as such should be televised.
“I certainly agree with Tommy because it has all the makings of a classic cup tie,” said Drysdale.
“We’re anticipating a really good crowd for the game and there’s already a big demand out there.
“We took 1,800 to Easter Road on Saturday for our victory over Hibs and although our home support in the league hasn’t been all that great, I’m pretty sure we’ll get a high crowd figure for a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie.
“I think we’d maybe be looking at a crowd of 5,000 anyway, possibly more.
“St Johnstone took 3,800 to Tynecastle for their League Cup semi-final, so we are expecting a big crowd and the game to be a classic cup tie with all the ingredients that TV companies are looking for.
“The track record would seem to suggest though that they go for viewing figures rather than the best football match, and the track record would suggest they will automatically go for Rangers and Aberdeen although I think our game is a more interesting proposition.”
Rangers’ home game against Albion Rovers is thought to be a stick-on for TV selection.
So that would leave Aberdeen’s home game against Championship side Dumbarton, Dundee United’s trip to either Stranraer or Inverness, and Raith’s game against Saints as the other contenders.
Rovers enjoyed a Scottish Cup windfall last season when their fifth-round tie against Celtic was chosen for live coverage by BBC Scotland.
This year has seen Grant Murray’s men reach the Ramsdens Cup final against Rangers in April, and that should also bring about a decent payday for the Kirkcaldy outfit.
However, officials at both Stark’s Park and McDiarmid Park believe the impending quarter-final between both clubs is worthy of extra attention.
TV executives are understood to be waiting for the outcome of the Inverness Caley Thistle v Stranraer replay on Tuesday before drawing up their wish list of games to show, and Drysdale remains optimistic that Raith v St Johnstone will prove to be one of the more attractive ties.
He added: “As far as I understand it, it is up to three ties that will be televised.
“The way it has worked in the past, Sky will choose their game, BBC will choose their game and then Sky will choose another game.
“But as Tommy Wright said in The Courier, we have a very exciting game in prospect in front of a decent crowd and I would hope the TV companies will see what the viewing public wants to see.”