Manager’s Update

09/03/21: SC - “It’s brought us together and made us stronger, and hopefully that will show in the remaining 10 games.

After a break enforced due to a Covid case, Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford spoke to the media for the first time in ten days. He stressed that the current position was “still a fluid situation” because it is an on-going issue. He re-assured everyone:-

“We acted accordingly when it was brought to our attention and we’ve been in daily contact in communication with the SFA and the government over the problems that we’ve faced. It’s caused a little bit of disruption to training and limitations have been put on the working week last week and this week as well.”

No matter how much well everyone follow protocols it has been proved throughout the nation and sport that Covid-19 can this happen. Stevie accepted that the virus has managed to find its way into the squad and you just have to face up to it:-

“We don’t feel hard done by, it’s something the whole world’s having to face. We’ve not taken it lightly, we’ve followed the government and SFA guidelines to the best of our abilities, and the only disruption it’s brought to us is we’ve had to miss out on the Raith Rovers and Dundee games.”

Stevie agreed it was a situation that everyone hoped the club would not have to face during the season, continuing:-

“We find we have had to. I’m great believer in life that you can make things even more difficult for yourself or accept what you’re facing. We’ve accepted what we’re facing and acted accordingly. We’ve embraced it and we’re really looking forward now to the Morton game at the weekend.”

Although other football clubs have faced it is the first time that Dunfermline Athletic are experiencing a Covid-19 outbreak. The manager explained that there had been limitations to the training and what has been possible. The players who weren’t self-isolating Saturday and Sunday off.

“It’s about managing the situation. What I will say, is I’ve got support staff here, in terms of people from above and then the coaching staff, and the players’ attitude has been terrific. We had a Zoom call last week because it does bring a bit of uncertainty as well.

“Football players are missing playing football. When it’s taken away from you - and we didn’t play in the Raith Rovers and Dundee games - you just want to get back to doing what we know best. We’re looking forward to the challenge of Morton at the weekend.”

That challenge could be greater if the Pars squad is not fully available for Morton’s visit on Saturday. Stevie said:-

“What I would be willing to confirm at this moment in time is the players we’ll definitely be without at the weekend will be Ryan Dow and Lewis Martin, and Lewis Mayo, who is suspended. Because it’s an on-going situation, I don’t want to say anything other than that.”

The manager highlighted a feel good factor at the club at the moment where people are there to support one another through tough, testing times and felt that replicates what they are going to face on the football park. He added:-

“It makes you a bigger, stronger person, in my eyes. We won’t be using this as excuse, far from it. We’ve got 10 games left and we’ve found ourselves in a really good position in the league to go on and do something this season.

“It’s brought us together and made us stronger, and hopefully that will show in the remaining 10 games. I know there’s the Scottish Cup as well, so that’s another game we’ve got to look forward to as well on the 23rd of this month.”

After no games for a fortnight Dunfermline will be raring to go when they do get back and will expect two matches per week to catch up:-

“It gives us a wee bit of a backlog in terms of the fixture list but we’ll face that collectively and it will make us stronger together in our end goal of finishing as high as possible in this league.

“It’s going to show the strength in depth that we’ve now got to our squad. There are other teams going to be facing this as well. We will be reliant on everybody playing a part, so it will create opportunities for people at the right times. We’ve very much got to focus on what’s ahead of us now.”

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