John Potter expects his future as Dunfermline manager to be resolved in the coming days after holding talks with directors in the wake of the failure to make the promotion play-offs.
The rookie East End Park boss has told the club’s board he is desperate for the opportunity to prove himself by leading the club back to the Championship next year.
Potter was appointed as Jim Jefferies’ replacement in December but was only handed a deal until the end of the season as the Pars clung to hopes of landing the League One title and promotion.
With the championship long having slipped away, Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Brechin City ended their chances of going up via the play-offs and the club have since issued a statement to inform disgruntled supporters that a “full review and assessment process” has been launched to analyse a deeply disappointing campaign.
Potter has spoken to directors as part of that exercise and expects further discussions next week as the Fifers decide how best to rebuild for a promotion push next term.
The former Dunfermline, St Mirren and Clyde defender has made it clear he wants to remain in charge to be at the forefront of that bid for the Championship.
The 35-year-old said: “I’ve had initial chats with the board, but nothing major just talking about the season and my plans that I would like to implement.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff to sort out and that will be done at the end of this week and next week, regarding myself and the staff and the players, everything.
“It needs to be done pretty quickly. We know we’re going to be in League One now and we’ve got to put together a squad that’s going to go and win it.
“I would like an opportunity. I’ve learned a lot in this wee spell. It’s not been the easiest of introductions to management.
“But I got the opportunity to do it and now I would like the opportunity to build a team my way, and then be judged on that.
“That’s what I would hope and we’ll see what happens over the next week or so.”
Dunfermline were fourth, and still in a play-off position, when Jefferies decided to leave in December following their Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Stranraer and a league defeat to Airdrie.
However, it took Potter six games to win his first match in charge and he has won just four of 12 since then.
He added: “As a manager, if you’re coming in at the start of the season and setting your aims and ambitions at the start of the season, signing your type of players, making pre-season preparations your way, playing football your way, then everyone knows what you’re after. It’s obviously easier and I would hope to get the opportunity to do that.
“I’ve been in the job for four and a bit months and I wasn’t given the job just because I was there. They wanted me to have it.
“I was given the job for a reason, because they thought I was the best man for it and I would still hope they feel that.
“I think it’s important we try and move on and rebuild.”