SPFL hit back at Raith Rovers over goalkeeping fiasco

The SPFL have insisted it was the fault of Raith Rovers, and not the league's governing body, for the Kirkcadly side taking to the field against Ayr United on Tuesday night without a recognised goalkeeper.

Raith stand-in keeper Ryan Stevenson. Picture: SNS

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Ex-Hearts and Partick Thistle midfielder Ryan Stevenson played between the sticks during the 1-0 defeat, even managing to pull off a couple of good saves in the unfamiliar role.

After the match, manager John Hughes attacked the SPFL for making a “mockery” of the Scottish game by refusing to postpone the fixture.

However, the league have insisted that Raith Rovers had ample time to try and bring in a goalkeeper on short-term cover, and chose instead to wait until the day of the match before requesting a postponement.

“Raith Rovers had a number of options open to them once their only fit goalkeeper was injured,” said the SPFL.

“They could have brought in an under-21 goalkeeper, or an out-of-contract goalkeeper of any age, in each case without any permission from the SPFL board.

“They could also have sought permission from the SPFL board to bring in a goalkeeper of any age on an emergency basis.

“All of these options were explained to Raith Rovers, who chose to do none of these things and instead requested a postponement on the day of the match.”

Raith were without a stopper after Conor Brennan was injured in Saturday’s match against Queen of the South.

The Northern Irishman himself was filing in for Kevin Cuthbert, and had been the only fit goalkeeper for three weeks after Cuthbert sustained an injury during a 4 February meeting with Dundee United.

Raith also have Aberdeen loanee Aaron Lennox on their books, though the Australian is out of the rest of the season with a broken jaw, sustained in a Development League match in January.

In his rant against the league, Hughes even mentioned that it would have been possible for Raith to bring in an under-21 goalkeeper on loan, but he felt more secure having Stevenson in goal.

“We’ve got four loans in, so we’d have to try to get someone to go back to their club before we could [sign a goalkeeper on loan],” said Hughes.

“We’d be looking at someone who is under 21 for the loan and, if we’d brought in a young keeper, I don’t think he’d have done any better than Ryan Stevenson.

“He had a great save in the first minute. He acquitted himself very, very well.”

Despite the issue, Raith could easily have taken a point, if not all three, from the match as Ryan Hardie and Mark Stewart both passed up excellent chances for the visitors, who eventually went down to a single goal by Ayr striker Farid El Alagui.