Raith Rovers manager Dougie Imrie assesses 'cutthroat' William Hill Championship run-in

With a mere 10 points separating fourth-placed Dunfermline Athletic and bottom club Ross County heading into this weekend’s fixtures, it’s anybody’s guess who will grab the final Premiership play-off spot and who will be automactically relegated or end in the League One play-offs come May.

Raith Rovers currently find themselves at a crossroads, as the sixth-placed Kirkcaldy outfit – managed by Dougie Imrie – are six points adrift of Dunfermline and a potential crack at the top flight, but only four points above the bottom two clubs Airdrieonians and the aforementioned County.

When asked if this season in Scotland’s second tier has been particularly madcap, former Greenock Morton gaffer Imrie told the Fife Free Press: “I would say from my time at Morton, every season's been the same. This season's no different at Raith.

"It's a cutthroat league, a very competitive league. The teams are well matched.

"But there's only 10 points between fourth and 10th, so everybody's got everything to play for.

"It's a really intriguing league every season. Everybody's always got something to play for.

"I think maybe two years ago, Raith Rovers were the only team that had nothing to play for with five or six games to go. So it's certainly got a bit of interest in the last nine games of the season.”

When asked if disappointments in football and life in general can ‘toughen up’ individuals facing challenges on the pitch like Raith’s current predicament, Imrie added: "I think some people use disappointment to their advantage, other people don't.

"But I think that comes down to an individual, how you use disappointment. Everybody's built differently.

"But there's nothing to be disappointed by here. Yes, we’re disappointed that we're not higher up the league.

"But there's been a lot of change as well, so that at times can affect players.

"Raith had Barry (Robson) for half the season, I've come in the last couple of months, John (Potter) has left as well, board members have left.

"So there's been a lot going on behind the scenes that people don't see, and people don't see how that affects people.

"So the main thing for me is to focus on the results on the pitch, keep everybody grounded, level-headed and keep pushing up the way rather than looking over our shoulder.

"I think the way you always have to be is calm. It's going to have its ups and downs."

Tomorrow’s Championship fixtures are: Queen’s Park v Airdrieonians, Arbroath v Ross County and Greenock Morton v St Johnstone.

Raith have a weekend off as their scheduled opponents Partick Thistle are playing a Scottish Cup quarter-final at St Mirren on Sunday.

Imrie’s men’s next league fixture is a Fife derby at Dunfermline Athletic next Saturday.