When a player signs a pre-contract for another club, it is never an ideal situation for any of the parties involved.
However, Raith boss Ray McKinnon admits that while he is disappointed he will lose James Craigen to Championship rivals Falkirk at the end of the season, he has no doubts over the player’s continued commitment to the Rovers cause, saying: “James is putting in some effort for the team, so good for him. He actually won a couple of headers the other night against St Mirren, which is astounding!”
Craigen himself took his manager’s tongue-in-cheek comments about his heading ability in his stride but he was deadly serious when he stressed that he will not be happy this season unless he can help Raith secure a place in the promotion play-offs with the Kirkcaldy side currently sitting in fourth, 10 points ahead of Morton who they play at Cappielow today.
The 24-year-old said: “The manager spoke to me when (Falkirk boss) Peter Houston first phoned him. He pulled me to one side and told me straight away that he knew I was the type of guy to just get on with things.
“I am here to the end of the season and when I spoke to the gaffer when I first came here, I wanted to help Raith get to the play-offs.
“We have said that from day one and we have given ourselves a great chance. We are in a good position to do that.
“So there are no doubts that when I leave here we have got at least fourth place.
“I appreciate that the manager has shown his faith in me by continuing to select me in the team.
“I think I have done well and we have had some good results.”
Craigen added: “He keeps kidding me on about the other side of the game.
“Funny enough, he keeps telling me he was a hard-tackling player in his day but others tell me he was just the sort who liked the ball at his feet.
“He also keeps telling me to watch YouTube to see his hat-trick of free-kicks (for Dundee United against Kilmarnock).
“I scored a penalty in the last minute down at Morton the last time we played there but I could do with a goal from open play maybe with a header.
“Now that would shut the gaffer up once and for all!”
Craigen admitted that confidence is high in the Raith dressing-room after a fantastic run of results, most recently with back-to-back wins over Hibs and St Mirren.
However, the former Partick Thistle player admits no-one is taking anything for granted.
He added: “If someone had said that we would be 10 points clear with six games to go, we would have snapped their hand off.
“We have got ourselves in a great position and with a few more wins, who knows?”
“We are on a really good run at the moment and all the boys want it they are doing tremendously well.
“If we win, it would be another fantastic result.
“The flip side is if we lose the gap is down to seven and the momentum swings but if we perform the way we have over the last month to six weeks, then we should get something out of the game.
“Morton are going to have to come out and try to win the game so we will see how that pans out.
“If we get to the play-offs it will be a fantastic achievement but we are not there yet.
“We just have to take every game as it comes starting on Saturday.”