Dunfermline have been dealt a blow with the news they will be without all three of their new signings for Friday’s Scottish Cup clash with Rangers because of red tape.
The Pars snapped up former Motherwell defender Jonathan Page 10 days ago and added ex-Hearts and Dundee United defender Danny Grainger and freed Partick Thistle midfielder Ross Forbes just hours before Friday’s transfer deadline.
The experienced trio all made their debuts in Saturday’s 3-1 victory away to East Fife but it has emerged that none of them will be able to feature at Ibrox.
Grainger played for St Mirren in their 3-0 replay victory over Queen of the South and Forbes started for Partick in their 1-0 loss to Aberdeen, both in the previous round in December.
But Page will also miss ou, despite being only an unused replacement in Morton’s 4-0 defeat to Inverness in November, with SFA rules ensuring “a club may not play, or list as a named substitute, any player who, in the same season, has already played, or been a named substitute, for another club in the competition”.
Boss Jim Jefferies, however, insists he has strengthened his squad with his aim set firmly on promotion.
He said: “They give us a strong squad and a bit of strength in depth for the league, but it’s unfortunate we won’t be able to use them in the cup this week.
“We were aware that Danny and Ross had played in the cup earlier in the season but Jonathan was an unused sub, so that’s disappointing.”