John Hughes leaves Raith Rovers following relegation

John Hughes has left Raith Rovers after the Fifers were relegated from the Championship following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Brechin.

The Kirkcaldy club announced in a brief statement they had ''parted company'' with manager Hughes and assistant Kevin McBride following their play-off semi-final loss.

Brechin secured a final against Alloa, who also won on penalties against Airdrie, after a 3-3 draw at Stark's Park.

Hughes had taken charge bacn in February and had only signed a contract until the end of the season.

He revealed in March he had rejected the chance to hold talks with Motherwell over their vacant position before Stephen Robinson was appointed at Fir Park.

Raith won their first three league games of the season and were third going into November - but they got more points in their first 11 matches than the subsequent 25.

Former Hearts boss Gary Locke departed during a run of 17 matches without victory.

One of his final decisions as manager was to loan Lewis Vaughan to Championship rivals Dumbarton and the forward hit four goals for the Sons, which earned them six points.

The part-timers finished above Rovers on goal difference.

Rovers won four of their last 10 league games with Hughes at the helm but a 5-0 loss at St Mirren in their penultimate match effectively consigned them to a play-off.

The former Hibernian and Inverness boss delivered some savage criticism of his players in Paisley and a home win over Ayr could not save them from the play-offs, where they drew 4-4 on aggregate with City, who finished fourth in League One.

Ross Caldwell and Alan Trouten both gave Brechin the lead in the second half but Jean-Yves M'voto and then Declan McManus equalised to take the game into extra-time.

Rovers took the lead for the first time in the match through Ryan Hardie in the 103rd minute but a wonderful 25-yard free-kick from Liam Watt with five minutes remaining forced penalties.

And Brechin goalkeeper Graeme Smith - who played under Hughes at Easter Road - proved the hero by saving three spot-kicks as the visitors won 4-3 in the shootout.