Kmcalpin

As anticipated on this board some months ago. Could Killie not have waited another 48 hours to announce this? He is a signed Livingston player until midnight tomorrow.

There's still no word of the mysteriously missing Jon Obika. I've checked the Official website daily for updates or corrections but, nothing. If its an error of omission no-one has bothered to rectify it. If it isn't that then why is it so mysterious?

Partick will be playing us at Fir Park.

Given that Partick will be playing a Premiership team, namely us, there must be a good chance that the game will be televised.

Reece McAlear signs a PCA with Livingston.

Yes there have indeed been rumours. Did the SPFL ask for guarantees before including them in the draw?

It was odds on we'd draw either Raith or Partick but at least its at home. At least we didn't draw Annan, Morton or QoS. Sadly we missed out on a trip to stimulate the ground collectors. A trip to the likes of Brechin, Bonnyrigg, East Kilbride, Peterhead, Buckie, or Kelty would have been nice.

I've always loved that term. Far better than Indonesia.

Seeding for the last 16 hasn't really worked for us. Hopefully we'll avoid Morton, QOS and Annan.

I'd say that midfield is an area we badly need to bolster. In addition to replacing Spittal we also require a physical defensive type to shield the defence. The absence of just such a player was one of the reasons we conceded so many last season.

Jamaica? No, she went of her own accord.

Both. Seems to be some substance to it, but it is a rumour.

Dylan Easton rumours discussed and largely confirmed on Raith P & B thread. You'd imagine PCAs will start to be confirmed after the end of the month. Transfer window opens on 14 June.

I view last season as a transitional one. One in which SK settled in and began to implement his own changes, after a spell of considerable managerial upheaval. Given this context finishing 9th was acceptable. Our cup runs were another matter. This summer will be huge for SK and us. He has been given a blank canvas should he want it, but he has to make the right signings. I've no doubt we'll pick up some decent players and yes, some duds too. Should our summer acquisitions be unsuccessful, our cup runs poor again, and we fail to improve on 9th place in the league, then yes, questions will rightly be aksed.

Nathan McGinley has been freed by Ayr United.

Valid points Ropy and Weeyin. I'm very much open to both routes, but the devil will be in the detail and will emerge in good time. I'm greedy as I do want more investment in our club but I also want our long term future safeguarded. I'm still unclear as to the involvement, active or otherwise, of the Society in the external investor discussions and no doubt that will eventually emerge in the wash. It would be absurd, to the point of being incredible, if there hasn't been any at all. If the external investment route proves to be a dead end then the Society really needs to come up with a credible alternative which is based on much more than fund raising events and bucket collections, valuable as they are.

Rumours that he's Dundee bound.

He's fine with the ball at his feet but does tend to blow hot and cold as any Raith fans will tell you. His first start in 7 today.

Tom Hateley was ok but not as good as he thought he was.

I don't know about having money to spend, but if the investment talks come to nought, then we'll benefit financially from the Society proposal - no?

You make a fair point. Early days though, as the window is not yet open. We should give the players concerned some time to make their minds up, but not too long. Maybe a couple of weeks or whatever. Then we move on. We need to be in a clear position well before pre season starts.

That scenario did occur to me, although it would seem very strange. Making very public offers to players for some hidden reason, in the knowledge that they wouldn't accept them.

It's intriguing and we just don't know. If rumours are to be believed, we're looking to acquire another senior keeper. We've released young John Bogan. Where does that leave Matty Connelly? Another season out on loan?

Agreed. We really don't know much about new signings yet. That's another issue. It's very early days; contracts end next week; and the transfer window doesn't open for weeks. However the retained list is the strangest one I can recall. There will be stories behind it though, to which we're not party.

I quite get that we're fishing in the same pond as a number of other Premiership clubs. You can almost bet that anyone we chase will be well known to the likes of Don Cowie, Craig Levein, Stephen Robinson etc. At the outset, I except Callum Slattery's offer, due to his unfortunate circumstances. He will be a special case. SK accepts the premise that the defence was poor last season. He has said so in public. As I said before, presumably they were coached to eradicate the collective and individual weaknesses. That did not work. You're then looking at personnel changes. If certain players were failing last season then there's a very high probability that they'll fail next season. Why not bring in "suitable" new faces who would possibly fail as opposed to keeping those who most probably would fail? As the adage goes, if something doesn't work why repeat it? Yes, there are risks but we can't just go again with the same failing crew. Can all of last season's defensive failings all be attributed to a poor goalie and poor defensive midfield? Given the amount and nature of the goals we lost, I don't think so. Wing back will be an interesting position. We've lost Gent, Devine and never really had Montgomery. IF SOD re-signs, he'll be a year older and slower. Interesting that Ewan Wilson has been given a year long deal. Will he be loaned out again or given his chance? If we rely on loans, then we're looking at bringing them in well after the season has commenced. A busy summer ahead and we're off to an intriguing start.