Mario Caira: tributes to highly respected Raith Rovers director and Victoria Hotel owner

The quiet man of Stark’s Park, he was a key figure in keeping Rovers afloat on several occasions, serving on the board from 1998 to 2005.

Mr Caira passed away after a short illness.

Having grown up on the outskirts of Cassino in Italy, it was his uncle David who encouraged him to move to Kirkcaldy in 1961 aged 18.

Within a few years he had set up his own ice cream business before purchasing the Victoria Hotel in 1981, which he ran until 2009.

His association with Rovers spanned the decades as a supporter, director and benefactor.

Mario become involved in the football club soon after his arrival in the Lang Toun, initially through helping his uncle run the catering on matchdays.

He took over the catering contract at Stark’s Park in the mid 1970s, which he maintained up until 2017. He also acquired shares in the club but it wasn’t until 1998 that he joined the board amid concerns over £1.8 million debts.

He stepped up as part of a new consortium with Danny Smith installed as chairman, but the club remained in a perilous financial state, and it was only a last gasp intervention from Mario in the early 2000s that averted a major crisis, as the club was left with just £2000 in the bank and a £40,000 wage bill to meet.

It was the first of several significant interventions over the years. He stepped in again, along with the late Turnbull Hutton, when the club came within seven minutes of administration in the face of a hefty unpaid tax bill.

He was also involved in the sale and lease-back of the stadium – a deal which prevented liquidation in 2003 – but it was the following year, and the disastrous arrival of Claude Anelka, when troubles resurfaced.

The financial fall-out from that episode led to the Reclaim the Rovers campaign and a takeover led by Thailand-based businessman John Sim.

Once again, Mario made significant sacrifices to allow the takeover to take place, agreeing to waive significant loan sums in order for the deal to be completed.

Mario remained the club’s majority shareholder after the takeover but asked Turnbull to take on the chairmanship, with himself as vice-chairman.

Under their stewardship Rovers moved back onto an even keel, with promotion to and consolidation in the Championship under John McGlynn, a Scottish Cup semi-final, and a Ramsdens Cup win under Grant Murray providing good times on the pitch.

The sad passing of Hutton in 2015 left Mario without his right-hand man, and, after growing increasingly frustrated with the structure of the club, he agreed to sell his shares to Mr Sim.

In 2019 he was inducted into Raith Rovers Hall of Fame in front of a capacity audience at the dam Smith Theatre.

In a tribute, Rovers said: “It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of former Director Mario Caira, following a short illness.

“Mario was a Rovers supporter, director and benefactor, who was involved with the club in various capacities for over 60 years. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, Mario spent much of the previous 20 years quietly going about his work as a director, avoiding fuss or recognition for all he did for the club.”