Raith Rovers strike deal for key man who won Championship title and Scottish Cup with Hibs

Former Hibs striker James Keatings has agreed a pre-contract deal with Raith Rovers and will move to the Kirkcaldy club in the summer.

James Keatings celebrates winning the league title with David Gray in May 2017

The 29-year-old has scored 11 goals since joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2019 after spells at Dundee United and Hamilton Accies after leaving Hibs in the summer of 2017.

Keatings, who has scored 13 goals in 24 appearances against his new club, has signed a two-year deal at Stark’s Park, tying him to the Fifers until the summer of 2023.

Rovers will be the sixth club of his senior career during which he has scored more than 60 goals in Scotland’s top two divisions.

Raith boss John McGlynn said: “We are delighted to have secured James’ services, and look forward to working with him over the next two seasons.”

The Glasgow-born forward won the Scottish Cup with the Easter Road side before netting eight goals in their Championship-winning season under Neil Lennon.

He gained notoriety among Hibs fans for “running the other way” at Hampden following David Gray’s injury-time winner against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final.

Keatings had made the rare decision to cross the Edinburgh divide after helping Hearts to the second-tier title during the 2014/15 season. He hit 11 goals in 33 games for the Jam Tarts and went on to net 20 in 72 for Hibs.

He started his career with Celtic but didn’t make a senior appearance for the Hoops, instead spending time on loan at St Johnstone and Hamilton before making a permanent move to New Douglas Park in 2013.

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