Toshney transfer was '˜difficult and challenging' say Raith

After 10 days of negotiations, and four bids from United, the defender finally followed Ray McKinnon to Tannadice on Tuesday for an undisclosed five-figure sum.

Raith chief executive Eric Drysdale refused to go into too many details, however he suggested he was less than happy with how things transpired.

“I’ve nothing to say over how Dundee United conducted their business,” he told the Press.

“However, I have been involved in many transfers over the years and this was one of the most difficult and challenging I’ve had to deal with.

“Negotiations were difficult because of Ray McKinnon’s knowledge of Raith Rovers and the fact the player made it very apparent that he didn’t want to be here.

“We were in a position where there was no point in hanging onto a player who was unhappy to stay, so it was a case of trying to get the best deal we could in the circumstances, which we have done.

“The original offer from Dundee United was some considerable distance away from our valuation of the player.

“Over the course of four bids they doubled the original offer. It’s not quite what we hoped for, but not bad.”

Toshney, who called off sick for Raith’s first week of preseason training, submitted a written transfer request on Friday.