We’ve invited fans of the 42 SPFL clubs (well, some of them at least) to give us a preview of their team’s upcoming season. Let’s find out what Michael Wood from the That’s Never 10 Yards podcast thinks is in store for Dunfermline…
Last Season’s Position – 7th
This Season’s Prediction – 1st
Best Signing of the Summer So Far – Jason Talbot
They all have the ability to excel at this level but perhaps not in the top half of the Championship which is a realistic aim for Dunfermline. I think former Livingston left-back Jason Talbot will be our best signing for his leadership and love of a challenge – remember his effort on Sam Nicholson – is something that the Pars lacked last season having been rightly labelled soft.
If Joe Cardle- who is on trial with the club- were to re-sign that would be a real coup. A fans’ favourite that is fondly remembered for his quality wing play and his tendency to cut inside.
Key Man – Ryan Williamson
At right back, the 19-year-old may seem like a peculiar choice for a key man, but his peers ranked him the best in the league two years ago. At over six-foot, his long stride and close dribbling gives his opposite number a torrid time of it as he turns him inside and out. If he progresses on his crossing and defensive responsibilities, he will become a player of Premiership quality.
When he went out last November with a knee injury that curtailed his season, Dunfermline really struggled without him and the dip in form was certainly not helped by his absence.
The Manager – Allan Johnston
Johnston’s tenure at Kilmarnock was a disaster. He flirted with relegation in the first season and the uninspiring football came in the second. However, many fans are happy with him at the helm giving what he did with Queen of the South – who Dunfermline could be easily compared to in terms of current situation and expectations. The board wanted someone with experience of winning the third tier and Johnston who led the Doonhamers to the title with 92 points with the help of the Sandy Clark’s – the assistant manager – son Nicky and his 32 goals certainly fits the bill.
Expectations
To win the title comfortably. In what was the Pars’ second successive season in the League One, buoyant off the back of finishing second to Rangers, we thought it would have been a proverbial cake walk. We were wrong. By December, Jim Jefferies left the club – unusually quietly – and was replaced by his protégé John Potter earlier than planned.
Almost everyone agreed a change was needed and Potter was the right appointment. Again we were all wrong, he mustered just five wins out of 20 and the slide continued until it ended with one of the lowest finishes in the club’s 130-year-history.
This season, Brechin City and Stranraer have been weakened with their managers departing to Raith Rovers and Dumbarton respectively. Cowdenbeath have unproven rookie Colin Nish at the helm while Forfar have lost some of their better players. With a clean slate – all 18 players out-of-contract players were not retained – and a fresh new plan, (a proper 4-4-2) there is no excuses this time considering the fans are right behind the side – season ticket sales are up on last year. Surely it will not be a fourth season in League One for the full-time outfit.
About The Author
Michael Wood is a 21-year-old that was born in Edinburgh and brought up in Dunfermline. He loves his beloved Pars so much that he created a podcast to talk about them called “That’s Never 10 Yards.” He is currently a third year Sports Journalism student at the University of the West of Scotland.
That’s Never 10 Yards Podcast | @MichaelWood_SJ | Facebook
