East Fife chairman Jim Stevenson insisted yesterday that Gary Naysmith has what it takes to reverse the Fifers’ fortunes despite their 5-1 rout at the hands of Arbroath at the weekend.
The Fifers boss stressed he would not walk away from the Methil club after their third League Two loss on the bounce, although he conceded that the club’s board could yet take that decision out of his hands.
Stevenson told The Courier yesterday that there are no plans to replace Naysmith as manager and confirmed that theclub’s board will do all they can to strengthen the squad in next month’stransfer window.
“We’re trying to improve the team and because there’s not that much money available, it’s a case of making alterations where we can,” he said.
“Gary has been working hard for weeks now trying to bring players in and he’s actively talking to players and managers.
“It is difficult because we are in League Two and Fife can often be seen as a step too far for players coming in from the west, but we are giving it our best shot.”
Stevenson confirmed that the club is in talks with Dunfermline about re-signing defender Jonathan Page, who had been on loan at Bayview for most of the season, but suggested that injuries and suspensions have taken their toll in recent weeks.
“We showed up with just one defender on Saturday and you can’t legislate for that,” he continued.
“We’re trying to get Pagey back and we will have Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia transferred from amateur to professional status in January, but it’s been difficult.
“Gary’s been out injured and we’re hoping to have Liam Smith back soon, but it’s up to his parent club Hearts to decide when he will be available.”
The situation at Bayview was not helped on Saturday when Ross Campbell was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Arbroath’s Adam Hunter, and that means he will serve a two-game ban.
Scott Smith was also forced off in the first half with an ankle injury, potentially leaving Naysmith with further selection headaches ahead of Saturday’s trip to Elgin.
The board of directors is preparing for the club’s annual meeting on January 5, when details of finances for the year are expected to emerge.
There will also hopefully be an update on the continuing takeover of the club by Stevenson and three other directors, although the chairman stressed that the four were “still in negotiations” with the club’s current owners.
“There’s not really much more I can say on that at this stage,” the chairman concluded.