New assistant Jackson aiming high with Raith

The 49-year-old former Scotland international has been out of the game since losing his coaching role at Dundee United last September following the sacking of Jackie McNamara.

“I’m absolutely delighted and over the moon to be back involved,” he told the Press.

“It’s been a long time since I left Dundee United and it’s been frustrating every day.

“I just want to be on that training pitch.”

Jackson is a former team mate of Locke at Hearts.

“I’ve had a great relationship with Lockey and it was a wee bit out of the blue when he gave me the call,” he said.

“I’m really grateful and just want to get back training, and hopefully keep improving the club and carry on the fantastic job Ray McKinnon did.

“I didn’t see them a lot last season but I played with Raymie at Dundee United - he was a wonderful player and everyone is surprised he’s in management!

“But he did very well and his teams go out and play attractive football - and that’s what Gary and I aim to do, albeit winning football is the main thing.

“The Championship is going to be very tough and competitive next season but we’ll be aiming high.”

In the seven months since leaving Tannadice, Jackson has been building up his coaching knowledge with visits to clubs on both sides of the border.

“I’ve been down south at clubs, and been at games every week, watching and learning,” he said.

“Even though I’m a wee bit older you never stop learning, and I just want to improve all the time.”

Jackson, who also counts Celtic, Hibs and Newcastle among his former clubs, is a well-connected figure within football having worked as an agent before taking the step into coaching. He was previously the agent of Raith captain Jason Thomson.

He said: “We’ve got 15 players signed so Gary and I will just work on both of our contacts and try to bring in quality rather than quantity.

“I was an agent down south with the biggest company in Britain for a few years, so hopefully we can produce a player who can come up and do us a turn.”