Ex-Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald says lockdown gamble paid off as he reunites with former Tynecastle mentor at Raith Rovers

Former Hearts manager John McGlynn and goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald pictured together during their Tynecastle days in 2012. The pair have now reunited at Raith Rovers. Pic: SNS Group Alan Harvey

Former Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald admits he took a gamble by turning down a new contract with Kilmarnock in the midst of a pandemic.

However, the 34-year-old stopper believes it has paid off following his move to Raith Rovers where he has teamed up with Tynecastle mentor John McGlynn - his youth coach, assistant manager and head coach throughout 11 years in maroon.

MacDonald spent the past five years at Rugby Park but was keen to find a club closer to home in order to spend more time with his family.

He accepts it was a risk to become a free agent during lockdown but is happy with the way things have turned out.

“It’s a strange time for everybody,” he told The Fife Free Press.

“I think for a lot of football players who were out of contract it was very difficult because it took longer to get tied up.

“Part of it was my own problem as well. I had the opportunity to re-sign with Kilmarnock and I chose not because I was trying to find something closer to my home base, I live in Edinburgh. It was a gamble but it’s worked out well.

“I’m now just 30 minutes up the road and it’s much better for my family life.”

MacDonald, who won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 2012 and was called up to the Scotland squad just two years ago, says he has no concerns about dropping down a division from the Premiership.

“I’ve played in the Championship numerous times over the years, even last season going on loan to Alloa for the first half of the season,” he says.

“It was great. It’s a competitive league where anybody can beat anybody on their day. I don’t think people realise how good the standard is in the Championship.

“Over the past few years there’s been a bit more money being pumped into the Premiership and teams adding to their squads, so what you are finding is a lot of experienced players from that league dropping out to the Championship, so it’s a very high standard.

“I don’t think there’s much difference between the teams at the top end of the Championship and the bottom end of the Premiership.

“It’s something I’m looking forward to.”

When the offer came to go to Kirkcaldy and reunite with McGlynn, MacDonald says it was a move that “ticked all the boxes” for him, both professionally and personally.

“First and foremost I know the manager really well. I’ve worked with him a few times in my career," he said.

“He was my first professional coach in the youths at Hearts. Then he was assistant coach and first team coach during my early days in the first team, then he came back as manager.

“He’s somebody I know very well so coming to Raith ticked all the boxes for me.

“It’s a good club and I’ve played here a few times in the past. It’s a good stadium and the club has a good fanbase as well. It has good potential.”