Dunfermline starlet Ross Millen insists the Pars can cope with the pressure of knowing their full-time status is on the line as they chase promotion this season.
With the Fifers narrowly missing out on a place in the Championship last term, manager Jim Jefferies has made it clear that escaping League 1 this term is imperative for Scotland’s largest fan owned football club.
Should they fail to do so, the East End Park outfit are almost certain to revert to a part-time status, meaning uncertainty for players and staff alike.
However, Millen insists the Dunfermline squad are embracing their position as title favourites and ready to thrive on the lofty expectations ahead of their league opener against Brechin on Saturday.
The 19-year-old said: “If you can’t deal with pressure then you are in the wrong business.
“I think we should take it as a positive that we are the favourites and supposedly the best team in the league. We are full-time and should be up there.
“We have to deal with that, and if you can’t do that then there’s not much point being at a club like Dunfermline.
“Our sole focus is to win the league and gain promotion, we gave it a good go last season but Rangers were that bit better than us. This season we have to look to win every game and make sure we don’t slip up too often.
“The league is the most important thing for us this season and we want to get high up the table as quickly as possible, starting against Brechin.”
Millen ensured Dunfermline’s perfect preparation for the league campaign continued on Tuesday, netting a sensational curling effort against Fife rivals Raith Rovers to secure a 1-0 Petrofac Cup win.
That followed hot on the heels of an emphatic 5-1 League Cup win over Annan as the Pars waste no time in finding their groove in the new campaign.
Millen beamed: “It was my first ever goal from open play and not a bad time to get it. After all, I do it all the time in training!
“I’m just happy to play and do my bit, and it was a brilliant win for the boys. It was a terrific atmosphere and a great experience.
“I think we dominated the game for the full 90 and so we should, we are a big club and we were at home. We deserved the win.”
Dunfermline, meanwhile, have parted company with their home-grown centre back Kerr Young, 21, so the player can secure regular first-team football.
Jefferies told Kerr that there was no guarantee of a first team position and the youngster has opted to leave.
“Kerr is at an age where he should be playing every week and he may not get that here,” Jefferies said.