Dreams can come true with German investment

Peter Grant - “We want Dunfermline fans to be excited about coming to watch their team playing and having a vibe around about the town.

Manager Peter Grant has welcomed the news of DAFC Fussball GmbH taking the majority ownership of the football club and revealed that their ambitions were a big influence on his decision to come to Dunfermline:-

“It is fantastic news. It was a big part for me when Ross (McArthur) offered me the job here that I wanted to make sure that everybody was involved in that before I took the job. I had to speak to them first because I didn’t want to be coming in here and then there was a takeover and all of a sudden you are worrying about your own position.”

Peter made sure that everyone was singing from the same songsheet. He was delighted to be offered the job but I wanted to make sure that everybody wanted him in that job.

“They have been very supportive, I speak to them every week. I like to keep the guys up to date with everything that is going on, with the players and the training programme. We do all that kind of stuff because I think it is very important when people have invested in your football club that you make them feel part of it.”

Peter stressed the importance of communication:-

“You want the supporters to know what is going on, you want the management to know everything that is going on. That is the way that I have always been.

“I like them to know how we are preparing but it is fantastic news about the training facility. As a coach that is what you want - you want the best facilities because that helps you with everything. It helps you attract players, it keeps players on the training pitch longer when up have your own facility - you don’t need to be moving off at a particular time.

“All these things are massive. Everybody keeps telling me, big club - of course it is with the fan base that we have - but as I’ve said many times, big clubs have to be sitting at the big table. That is what we have to try and get back to.

“It is great that the German guys have come in and seen Dunfermline as that potential club. That is what it is - potential - and we have to go and make that reality.

“Everything goes swimmingly if the team does well. Everybody else’s job is so much easier, that is what we aim to do - and bring the punters back in the door so that everybody gets the benefit from it. We are delighted that the guys have come on board and hopefully we can excite them and make sure that it is the right purchase for them. I am sure that they will be pleased by the way things are.”

Peter said that he speaks to Thomas Meggle two or three times a week:-

“FaceTime is magnificent so I will sometimes just go back and have a chat with him because he used to play football as well and he understands it. Damir Keretic, (one of the four individuals behind DAFC Fussball GmbH) was a tennis player so they are all sports people.

“There are a lot of things that you can ask them football wise and what did they do individually because tennis is obviously completely different from football. Psychological things that happen and how did they deal with that in a one to one situation.

“It is good for us to be able to bounce things like that off them. When you talk about Germany you always think of success, Germans have always been winners at everything they try and do.

“They try to be the best and I think that is why supporters should be excited that it is the German consortium that has taken over because they have proven that in the football world they always want to be the best.

“Look around sports they are always near the top so we have to try and achieve that. They obviously see something that has a possibility of happening here and hopefully we can make that dream come true.”

Peter praised the role played by his Chairman, Ross McArthur whom he had only previously known due to his visits to the Pars training camp at Alloa.

“When I got the phone call to come and meet him, I agreed to come and meet him. As you can see he has backed me with the players that I have managed to bring in.

“At the time when I got the job I asked him if he was a Dunfermline supporter because I would know then that what happens with the club concerns him. He said ‘yes’. That was a big positive for me because he wants to do everything right for this football club.

“I know that he was very close before to bringing other people in but he changed his mind because he didn’t feel like it was the right people for the club. That shows you the makings of the man and what he is about. He will only do things if it is right for this football club. He has actually said that to the German guys as well and they have bought into everything that he has tried to put in place. He has been a fantastic support and they like the way things are going.

“I can only judge it on what I have done since I come through the door, they are very very professional in everything they do. They show great respect to the community which I think is important because as we keep saying how everybody has been tortured trying to watch football and trying to come back to watch football.

“We are trying to excite the people who come through the door. We want Dunfermline fans to be excited about coming to watch their team playing and having a vibe around about the town. I think that is what is so important and if we can manage to do that with the performances on the pitch and make everyone happy, we are all delighted and happy then.

“Ross is a big supporter and he would have done nothing that wouldn’t have helped the football club. The guys have been supportive so far so I have no complaints.”

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