Raith Rovers boss Ian Murray praises Airdrie successor Rhys McCabe ahead of New Broomfield return

Ian Murray has praised the job Airdrie player-boss Rhys McCabe has done at the Diamonds since his departure.

But insists he is determined to pick up three points on his return to New Broomfield tomorrow with Championship leaders Raith Rovers.

Murray moved east last season after four years in the Airdrie hot-seat, where he twice took the team to the cusp of the Championship, only to lose on both occasions that they reached the play-off final.

McCabe stepped up to replace him in June 2022, becoming the youngest gaffer in the SPFL in the process at 29, and managed to achieve what Murray couldn't by earning promotion to the Championship, which came via in a dramatic penalty shootout win in May's play-off final against Hamilton Accies.

Now, the master and the apprentice will collide for the first time when Murray's men come calling with an unbeaten record to protect.

It's a test the 42-year-old is looking forward to and he admits he was overjoyed to see his old club and former player be so successful last term.

"Rhys has done a fantastic job," Murray enthused.

"It is a much harder job than what it looks from the outside, especially having to pick everybody up after the defeat in the final of the play-offs [in 2022].

"That is very difficult.

"There was a good nucleus of players there but it is another thing getting the best out of them after that.

"I'm really chuffed for him as well because he went in with his own ideas and managed to get Airdrie back to the Championship in his first season.

"This season is slightly different. It is a tougher league where your mistakes get punished much more and you have to work harder.

"But I think it has been a really positive start for Rhys, and Dycey [Callum Fordyce] as assistant manager.