Building with Balance

16/06/20: SC - “I will be talking to players and looking to try and bring the right balance.

When the new Championship campaign is able to get underway Stevie Crawford is hoping that Euan Murray can play a big part for Dunfermline Athletic. The manager told this website:-

“Last season was frustrating for Euan because of the injury he picked up down at Queen of the South, it will be a big season for Euan. He is a good character, adaptable to playing at centre back and when he came in last season he played at left back.”

After Ryan Dow who celebrated his 29th birthday last week, Euan is the next most senior of the players signed for next season. Stevie continued:-

“Ryan and Euan are at a good age and even they should be looking forward to trying to improve on where we ended up finishing last season.

“I was asked recently if I was happy with sixth place. My answer was, if I am Dunfermline manager happy with sixth placed then I shouldn’t be in the job! That is not to say that I wasn’t happy with a lot of things that happened over the season. I did say that it would be a bit of a rollercoaster but I did see signs of improvement.

“We are faced with a different challenge this year with what the pandemic is bringing. The pro licence does not prepare you for this and no one has experience of it. I know that Ross and the board are working hard and likewise we will continue to work hard to try and face this problem and make sure that we have a successful year next year.”

Having followed a policy last season of signing young players to develop, would this continue for the next season?

“I have a list of players and I will be doing everything to try and get the right balance. Along with discussions with Greg, Jason and Jackie McNamara and Ross it is not as simple as saying that if I had this as a budget or that as a budget.

“I will be talking to players and looking to try and bring the right balance. When I use the word ‘balance’ it doesn’t take a genius to work out that you are not going to be looking to try and put a bit more experience into the team. I will be covering all bases to try and make sure that we can compete in the Championship.”

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