Raith winger glad to bury the hatchet after being reunited with former boss

Barr spent three and a half years at Almondvale earlier in his career, but was farmed out to East Fife on loan in September 2012 after falling out with Hughes.

The pair were reunited for the first time last week when Hughes took his first training session as Raith boss, and Barr was glad to discover there are no hard feelings.

“That’s football – I was young and we had a disagreement,” he told the Press. “I’m more mature now, and I’ve no problem with the manager.

“He came in on Monday and said ‘Bobby, you’re training with the kids’ and that just broke the ice straight away. He’s been a breath of fresh air since he came in and hopefully that continues.

“Disagreements happen in football and there’s only one winner when you’re arguing with a manager. It’s happened to better players than me, but I’m more settled now, and I’m just enjoying my football.

“If the manager tells me to do something then I’ll do it – and just bite my tongue!”

There was certainly no hint of resentment on Saturday as Barr was handed a start in Hughes’ first match in charge as Raith claimed an impressive 1-1 draw against league leaders Hibernian.

“The spirit’s always been there in the dressing room, but the gaffer has come in and he’s enthusiastic, training has been good, and he’s tried to drill team shape into us,” Barr said.

“He’s got a certain way of playing and he wants us all together, with everybody working as a unit, and the Hibs game was a starting point.

“There was a real togetherness out there, and the football will come. He’s got a way of wanting to play but we’re not going to be the finished article after a week.

“It will come, but Saturday was a starting point against best team in the league. If we can do it against them why can’t we go on a wee run?”

With just four points separating Raith from the relegation play-off position, Barr admits that upcoming games against the likes of Ayr United, St Mirren and Dumbarton are going to be crucial.

“The run coming up is massive for us,” he said. “We knew the situation we’re in, and we don’t want to be there.

“When I came here I certainly didn’t envisage being down the bottom end of the table. We know as a group we let the last manager down, and we didn’t do enough on the park, but we’ve got 12 games left to kick on and try to climb as high as we can in the league and finish on a positive.

“The fans were back in numbers on Saturday, singing and being positive, and that’s what we want.”