RAITH ROVERS have appointed Ian Murray as their new manager having held talks with Kelty Hearts boss Kevin Thomson.

As previously reported by Press Sport, the 37-year-old was granted permission to hold talks with the Stark's Park club over succeeding John McGlynn, who departed at the end of the campaign to take over at Falkirk.

Thomson, who led Kelty to an historic SPFL League Two title after taking over from Barry Ferguson following their promotion from the Lowland League, was one of the candidates that the Kirkcaldy club spoke with.

However, it was reported that he dropped out of the running, leaving Raith to announce the arrival of Airdrieonians' manager Murray earlier this afternoon.

Thomson's work in his first season as a senior manager, having left Rangers' academy last summer, has won him plenty of admirers, having also been interviewed by Kilmarnock earlier in the campaign before the appointed Derek McInnes to replace the sacked Tommy Wright.

In a stunning season, which saw only Dundee United – who finished fourth in the top flight, securing a European berth – beat them on their own pitch, in the Premier Sports Cup, Thomson's side were crowned champions with 81 points.

Having lost only three league games, they finished 21 points clear of second-placed Forfar Athletic, and also reached the last 16 of the Scottish Cup for the first time, memorably knocking out holders, St Johnstone, on the way.

There have been links with other vacancies, including at Dundee, one of his former clubs, and last week Thomson was named the Glen's SPFL League Two Manager of the Season.

He has, however, been preparing Kelty for the season ahead in League Two, which will see them lock horns with Dunfermline and Falkirk.

Speaking to Press Sport, he said: "It's humbling that the job you're doing (is recognised), and I hope that's from the club's perspective as well.

"I try and do what I believe in. I've never shifted away from 110 per cent focus on Kelty. I've knocked back media work through the season to be committed to make sure I'm at training. Me and Geordie (Kevin McDonald, Thomson's assistant manager) have never missed a training session or a game.

"The biggest thing I can say is that everybody knows I've got aspirations to get to where I want to get to but, at the same time, I'm really comfortable in where I am at the moment.

"We've loved every minute of it, and not just because we were successful, because we felt like we were unsuccessful in the Premier Sports Cup because we never got through. We felt like we never did ourselves justice against St Mirren (in the Scottish Cup) because we got beat, so it wasn't all plain sailing, with the games we lost in League Two, some of the injuries and COVID.

"It was a difficult season, but we've genuinely loved every minute of it.

In football, things can change quickly. I'm not naive to think that, but I've never wavered from the job I'm doing, and that's the manager of Kelty Hearts, and being committed to make sure that everything that needs done for Kelty is getting done."