Eight first team players were released this week, with three loan players also returning to their clubs, leaving McGlynn free to recruit an entire new team for next season.

Niall Henderson, Ryan Borris, Derek Carcary, Joe Dingwall and Craig Winter have all been told to find new clubs as well as all three goalkeepers on the club's books.

McGlynn is adamant that changes were necessary after Raith's title bid fell considerably short, and promotion hopes via the play-offs ended in Airdrie on Saturday.

"We need to bring in fresh faces," he said. Our budget doesn't allow us to do that without moving players on. We have to try to get it right next season. Ultimately, that's my job.

"You'll always be gambling a wee bit because we're not exactly shopping at Harrods.

"We're shopping in the same market but we're hoping to bring in players who will hit the ground running and maintain their form through a more consistent period of the season.

"We didn't have the consistency that meant we were challenging from August 4 to April 26. We need to find that and rather than go with the same players again, we'll approach next season with a freshness.''

As we went to press, news was filtering through that McGlynn's first summer signing — Queen's Park midfielder Mark Ferry (24) — was on the verge of concluding a two-year deal.

Livingston midfielder Allan Walker, who completed a two-month loan at Stark's Park earlier in the season, is another strongly tipped to sign by club insiders.

McGlynn remained tight-lipped on any deals in the offing but he does not want to spend his budget — slightly improved on last season's — too early in the close season.

• To read the full story pick up your copy of the Fife Free Press first thing Thursday morning.