Dunfermline Athletic plan to remain a full-time football club next season, regardless of what division they are playing in.
That was the message from boss John Potter yesterday as his side face a fight to get back into the play-off picture in League One, although the Pars manager maintained that promotion to the Championship is still an achievable aim this term.
When Potter took over from Jim Jefferies, the club released a statement that suggested the current season was “pivotal” to the long-term survival and sustainability of the Pars as a full-time team.
But speaking to Courier Sport yesterday, Potter stressed that everyone at East End Park is keen to retain the current set-up whatever happens.
“We’ve spoken about it and Bob Garmory (Pars chairman) went on record when we had a Supporters’ Council meeting to say that it was a lot of rubbish,” he explained.
“Staying in this division doesn’t necessarily mean this club will go part-time.
“Where we’re at, it’s not that much of a difference cost-wise between full-time and part-time.
“So it’s something the club will look at and decide the best way forward, but in no way does staying in this division mean the club will have to go part-time.
“The club will look at it and decide on the best option but, at the moment, the plan is to stay full-time.
“There are options there and there are pros and cons for both sides.
“For part-time clubs you can sign older guys who are on good jobs who are happy being part-time, and there are good part-time players out there.
“But we want to be a full-time club.
“It’s what I want, it’s what the club wants, it’s what the fans want, so that’s our plan.”
While any hopes of automatic promotion through winning the title now look dim and distant, Dunfermline are still in with a shout of clinching a play-off spot.
There may be an eight-point gap between the Pars and fourth-placed Forfar, but Potter insists his men are determined to keep plugging away after laying down the law earlier this week.
He added: “There’s loads to play for and I told that to the players after the Stranraer game on Monday.
“If I see one of them downing tools a wee bit and thinking the season’s over they’ll be out the door.
“They won’t be training with us, it’s as simple as that.
“We can still get in the play-offs, we can still get promoted, which was the goal at the start of the season.
“That can still be done and it doesn’t matter how you get up, the opportunity is still there.
“Players are also playing for contracts and playing for their futures, so there is still plenty to play for.
“I’m the same and we’re all in the same boat.
“Nobody knows what’s going to happen in the summer and the club will need to sit down and decide where we’re going to go in the summer depending on what division we’re in.
“The board have been very positive with me and have been good to me in supporting me, but we’re all still concentrating on the goal of getting promoted this season because it can still be done.”
Alex Whittle will miss tomorrow’s home game against Ayr through injury, defender Gregor Buchanan remains suspended and Ryan Wallace will again be sidelined, although the latter returned to training yesterday and should be available soon.
The Pars’ scoring hopes may well rest on the shoulders of on loan Hibs prospect Lewis Allan, and Potter has been impressed with the addition to the squad.
“He’s come into a difficult situation, some would say, but he’s been great,” he commented.
“He’s trained well, played well and has a great attitude, and he probably just needs a goal to get him over that wee hurdle.
“I’ve been really happy with him and I think there’s loads more to come from him as well.
“He can score goals and we see it training.
“He can finish and I think he’s been a wee bit unlucky so far he’s hit the post twice, he’s been through one-on-one and his touch has maybe let him down a wee bit.
“But he’ll score goals, I’ve no doubt, and his attitude has been a bit plus for us in the last few weeks.”