Jason Thomson urges Raith to grab chance against Hibs

Raith Rovers skipper Jason Thomson has urged his team-mates to grab the chance of winning promotion to the Premiership '“ because they might never get another opportunity.

Raith captain Jason Thomson wants to go to Easter Road on Saturday with "plenty to play for". Pic: SNS

While all the focus has been on the fight for second place in the Championship between Hibs and Falkirk, the Kirkcaldy outfit have flown under the radar, clinching their own play-off spot with three games to go. They have only lost once in their past 15 matches.

Such a record, insists former Hearts player Thomson, makes Raith every bit as entitled to believe they can make the step up as both Hibs and the Bairns, revealing he’s never enjoyed such a run as the Stark’s Park side have put together in his career.

Thomson also stated that much of the credit must go to manager Ray McKinnon, not only for putting together the squad he now has at his disposal, but in instilling a belief among his players.

The right-back said: “We’ve been on a run the likes of which I have never been part of, either at this club or anywhere I have been before.

“The manager is a great motivator. He is always harping on at us to believe in ourselves, especially at the stage of the season we are at. This chance might not come again for anyone in the squad.

“If we don’t progress and we are in the same league next season, teams are only going to get better and it will be harder to get into this position. It is just about trying to grasp it, do as well as we can and maybe push into the Premiership. For a team like Raith Rovers, that would be massive.”

Such a notion may seem fanciful, given McKinnon’s revelation that some of Raith’s players are paid “peanuts”, while fans have dipped into their own pockets to finance the wages of others, but Thomson countered: “There are teams in there similar to Raith Rovers. Hamilton, for instance. They have gone up and have justified being in the league.”

Nevertheless, Thomson admitted Raith face a big ask with six matches to negotiate. “We will take each game as it comes,” he added. “We want to make sure that by the time we go to Easter Road on Saturday there is still plenty to play for.”