Liam Fox leaving Raith Rovers for Hearts coaching post

Whoever takes charge of Raith Rovers this summer will have to do so without the services of midfielder Liam Fox.

The 31-year-old, who has also had spells with Inverness and Livingston, has decided to curtail his professional playing career to become an under-17 coach with Hearts on a full-time basis.

Fox will also assist under-20 coach Jack Ross at Tynecastle, with the Edinburgh club planning to register the midfielder as a player ahead of this season but only to help out in Development League games should he be required.

Fox, who played for Hearts as a youth, signed for Raith in the summer of 2013 and made 29 appearances this season, but his eagerness to pursue a coaching career means the Hearts offer was too good to turn down.

Meanwhile, Rovers have confirmed that they will welcome Aberdeen to Stark’s Park for a pre-season friendly on Sunday July 12 with a 3pm kick-off.

Two away fixtures have also been pencilled in, against Spartans on Tuesday July 14 and East Fife on Saturday July 18.