Squad balance the priority

“I think they`ll be happy that they have got Kyle Turner and we`re delighted that we`ve been able to get Kyle Macdonald involved now.”

Above: Kyle Macdonald v Morton on 13th March 2021

Addressing the media this week Stevie Crawford explained the deal announced on Tuesday that saw Kyle Macdonald remain at Dunfermline instead of returning to Airdrie for League One resuming, and the result of that being midfielder Kyle Turner going out on loan to Airdrie for the remainder of the season:-

“When we brought Kyle Macdonald into the club, part of the deal was that he would go back (to Airdrie) when League One started up again.

“So when I had a conversation with Ian Murray over the weekend, he declared an interest in Kyle Turner. I mentioned that I felt for the balance of our squad would it be possible then for Kyle Macdonald to stay with ourselves, and was that something that he would be interested in?

Above: Kyle Turner v Inverness Caley Thistle on 17th October 2020

“On top of that we had offered Kyle Turner a new contract a number of weeks ago, which he had refused to sign, which is his prerogative.  When I spoke to Kyle after training on Monday, I said that I`d spoken to Ian Murray and was completely honest and open with him that there had been interest from Airdrie, would it be something that he would be interested in?

“I told him my views on it that I would be interested to get a balance to our squad, if we could bring a defender in. He went away and thought about it and it was something that Kyle wanted to do, it was ultimately his decision.

“So that`s football, sometimes you move on and as I say everything was done, every decision that I made, I spoke to the Chairman about this over the weekend. I spoke to my coaching staff, and everything that came to this decision was in the best interest of Dunfermline Football Club.”

Kyle Turner (23) did not give any indication as to why he turned down the offer of a contract but Stevie added:-

“I feel it is right, because there`s now a deal been done with Airdrie that I let people know that Dunfermline offered Kyle a contract. He decided that it wasn`t right for him.

“Kyle had got back into the team and got on the pitch last Saturday, so it wasn`t like he wasn`t going to play between now and the end of the season.  But the balance for our squad for the run-in, is so important. It doesn`t become just about Kyle Turner here, it doesn`t become about an individual it is a collective thing.

Above: Kyle Macdonald in his Dunfermline debut on 20th February 2021

“The bigger picture for me was when I looked at Kyle Macdonald being in the squad and Kyle Turner being in the squad, I just felt that balance was right that we had options because Kyle Macdonald can play both right and left back.  

“I think when you`re looking at a squad, without going into any individual names, we`ve got options for the middle of the park so you know that happens in football at times. 

“I want to wish Kyle Turner all the best. I`d like to think that he has done well for us in his spell at the club, but we have been very good for him as well. I would also like to thank Airdrie for their help in this matter, I think they`ll be happy that they have got Kyle Turner and we`re delighted that we`ve been able to get Kyle Macdonald involved now.”

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