Ray McKinnon: Retiring Jon Daly could play on for years

Raith Rovers striker Jon Daly will hang up his boots at the end of the year and manager Ray McKinnon believes the decision may have come too soon.

McKinnon has no doubts that Daly, 32, will remain professional until his last day as a player, but the Rovers gaffer is concerned that the former Dundee United and Rangers man’s retirement will leave him short of attacking options at Stark’s Park.

Daly has decided to bring his playing career to a close in order to take up the opportunity to coach the U20s at Hearts and McKinnon will be sad to see him go. “It is so disappointing for me and the club as we have brought him in, he has got himself fit, we have given him the platform to play and he is really starting to do that well,” he told The Courier.

“He could have had a few more years playing but he has had to make the big decision to give up.”

However, while the Rovers boss could have done with Daly’s services until the end of the season he knows it is not a decision the player will have taken lightly.

“Any football player will tell you that they wished they could play for as long as possible so it is a huge decision for Jon,” he added.

“He has obviously given it a lot of thought, and I respect that, but it does leave us very short. It is a huge blow for our club but at the same time we realise it is a great opportunity for him.”

Raith currently sit fourth in the Ladbrokes Championship, having gone from a five-game win streak to losing their last three.

The Rovers are next in action away to second-from-bottom Dumbarton, where a win could see promotion odds of 16/1 shorten.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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