Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has revealed that he would have loved to have managed Raith Rovers.  

Brown, who led the UK government between 2007 and 2010, has supported the Kirkcaldy-based Raith since childhood, writing several articles about his relationship with the Rovers, and citing Jim Baxter as the best player he ever saw at the club.

Now ahead of their Scottish Cup clash with local rivals Dunfermline Athletic, Brown, 72, has admitted that he would have relished the opportunity to take the reins at Stark’s Park.

‘I’d love to have been manager of Raith Rovers, [but] I’m not the expert that other people are.’

Gordon Brown revealed he would have loved to have managed his boyhood club Raith Rovers

Brown missed Raith’s 1994 League Cup final victory because he had an interview commitment

Brown also revealed he missed one of Raith’s most famous wins – beating Celtic on penalties in the 1994 Scottish League Cup final – because of his political commitments to the Labour Party. 

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He said: ‘I had to do this interview because I was shadow chancellor – it was on the same day as the match with Celtic and you didn’t get feed from Scotland into London at that time.

‘There was no way I could see the pictures or get to the match. I was actually listening to the match with my brother playing it over the telephone! It was a bad diversion – I would’ve preferred to be at the football match!’

On Friday, Raith travel to rivals Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup – who themselves have political connections, with ex-player and manager Jim Leishman the current provost of Fife. 

Brown said: ‘Jim’s an incredible guy. Jim was incredibly popular as a player. Great manager. He’s a hero across the whole of Fife. As provost, he represents everyone.’

But away from the cup, Raith Rovers sit second in the Scottish Championship, as they look to return to the top flight for the first time in 26 years.

Is promotion on the cards for Ian Murray’s side? ‘I think Raith Rovers have got a very good chance this season’, Brown said.

Brown thinks Stark’s Park-based Raith have ‘a very good chance’ of promotion this season