Dunfermline assistant manager Gerry McCabe has expressed his concern for those affected by the drastic cuts at Dens Park but knows sympathy will have to be put aside come 3pm on Saturday.
The Pars travel to Dundee at the weekend for a game that will now have even greater significance due to the Dark Blues going into administration.
McCabe said, “It’s sad what’s happened at Dundee and we’re sympathetic. But when you look at the team, the guys they let go were ones who weren’t playing they’ve still got the nucleus of their starting 11. We’re going to forget about that as we know it will be a difficult game it always is up there.
“We know we’ve played there and come away with nothing. But we hope to rectify that and sort that out on Saturday.
“”Obviously, Dundee have this situation where they have been given up to the end of December so players want to do their best. If it doesn’t happen there they might get a move somewhere else.
“It’s in the back of their minds what’s happening but now they’ve let the players go that they are letting go, other players will be giving it their best shot. But we’ve got to concentrate on what we’re doing and get the three points”
McCabe believes other first division teams will be upping their game against the Pars with them being league leaders.
“We’ve got match winners in our team, especially guys like Willie Gibson,” he said. “When he’s on the kind of form he showed on Saturday he can be unplayable at times.
“Every game is a challenge now when you’re sitting top of the league. It’s a scalp for other teams so we have to prove ourselves in every game.”
Striker Steve McDougall knows he is not guaranteed a starting place against Dundee, despite his late heroics on Saturday when he scored a last-minute winning goal against Ross County.
“The boys that are playing up front have done really well and we’re sitting top of the league,” he said. “I’m not the type of person to chap on doors for a place. However, if a chance comes for me then I’ll take it.
“It’s really unfortunate what’s happened at Dundee and everyone at Dunfermline wishes them all the best. Hopefully they will come through it but at the end of the day we’ve to go up there to try to win a game and hopefully we can go and do that.”
Pars chairman John Yorkston has confirmed the club have been provided with money by a “mystery” source to help the club gain promotion to the SPL.
He said cash had been given to bring in Jack Ross from Hamilton and Dunfermline could see another couple of signings in the January window.
“This person is a fan of Dunfermline but doesn’t want any publicity,” he said.