East Fife chairman Sid Collumbine has issued a rallying call to supporters during troubled times for the club.
The Methil club have not had their problems to seek of late and saw assistant manager Gordon Chisholm resign from his post at the end of last week, effectively leaving the Fifers managerless as Gordon Durie continues to recuperate from ill health.
Former Rangers defender Bob Malcolm, who was on loan at Bayview in pre-season and is now a coach at the club, has been taking training alongside existing coaching staff but fans are growing increasingly concerned about the club’s present state.
However, Collumbine appealed for patience as the club look at the best way forward.
Asked if Durie could be replaced as boss if the current situation continues something some sections of the Methil support have called for Collumbine dismissed any notion the manager could be sacked.
”It’s not something we’re looking at and I’m dying to get Gordon back. All I can say to the fans is to give us a bit of time,” he told Courier Sport.
”I feel that we’ve got a lot of good players there and I know some people have criticised the loan signings but they will help to bring the younger players on as well.
”I’m quite sure we will turn this around but there are a lot of things that have gone against us.
”It’s not been clicking recently for us and we’ve had a bit of bad luck. But I would just call on the fans to keep backing us and giving their support to the team.
”We need our supporters now more than ever this is the time you need support.”
Collumbine is hopeful Durie will be cleared to return to work this week ahead of what will be another important home game on Saturday.
The former Rangers striker has not been in the dugout since mid-August, when he was rushed to hospital after taking ill in the aftermath of a 0-0 draw with Queen of the South.
With Chisholm leaving last week, Collumbine has stressed no assistant will be appointed without Durie’s input.
”Gordon is going back to the doctors this week and we have to wait on the results of that. But his target was always this Saturday’s game against Forfar, so we’re hoping that is going to be the case,” he said.
”We can’t turn around and say we have got to get an assistant manager in without speaking to Gordon as it’s got to be his choice. It’s definitely not ideal but our hands have been tied.
”Gordon Chisholm left because of pressure of work with his own business and that’s not ideal but unfortunately he had to do it and we wish him well.”