Murray says Raith Rovers sacking 'doesn't make sense'

Ian Murray believes the reasons for his recent sacking by Raith Rovers "still don’t make any sense" as he targets a return to football management.

Despite pushing Dundee United for the Scottish Championship title last term and missing out on promotion via the play-offs, Rovers parted with their boss after an opening loss to Airdrieonians in this season's competition.

Neill Collins has since taken charge at Stark's Park and Murray, 43, told a special edition of the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast: "I wasn’t expecting it.

"It was a less than three-minute phone conversation. I was told they wanted to go in a different direction. They felt that they had regressed in recent months and they were going to terminate my contract. And that was the end of the conversation.

"The first thought for most people was there was something else behind it, which then starts questioning my integrity at times because people like to talk and make some things up that they don’t know about. But there was nothing.

"I told him that I didn’t agree with the decision, 100%. And I didn’t expect that decision to be made."

Murray 'ready' if St Johnstone job comes up

Murray explained he told Rovers chief executive Andrew Barrowman he was "not going to sit here and beg for my job".

"I felt I had enough credit in the bank to at least have had a conversation before a decision was made where we could maybe sit down around a table, shake hands even and walk away," he added.

"But to do it over the phone I felt wasn’t right. You obviously try and evaluate the reasons that they gave, which still don’t make any sense to me."

Murray has been one of the names linked with the vacant St Johnstone job following the sacking of Craig Levein.

"I’m like any manager, I am open to any offer," Murray said.

"It’s sad when someone loses their job but that’s the nature of the business that we are in. Unfortunately, you are always waiting for someone to leave and you might have an opportunity.

"There will be more when the domino effect kicks in, which I probably started this season. You have to be ready and I am ready. I didn’t need a rest. I’ve had my rest in the summer, so it wasn’t like I needed to recharge my batteries.

"I have got a lot coming up in the next couple of weeks, which is really, really good - all football related - so I’m really looking forward to all of that. But if a job comes up before that then fantastic."

Meanwhile, Falkirk manager John McGlynn said "it's a compliment for all the good work that's been getting done" to also be linked with St Johnstone after his side's 43-game unbeaten league run took his side to the League 1 title and an early lead in the Championship.

"I think myself and [assistant] Paul Smith did a really good job at Raith Rovers to get them out of League 1 and then finish third in our first season in the Championship, in a league that contained Hearts and Dundee, and then fifth in our last season," he said.

"And we've come in here and, within two and a bit seasons, we are where we are now. It's nice to be linked with it, but I'm very comfortable and very happy where I am."