Manager On Thursday

18/08/22: JMc - “It is another game, an important game, it is worth three points and the bragging rights because the clubs are so close.

With his team sitting top of the league with maximum points and having added Sam Fisher to his squad, the only thing wrong for James McPake this week was the weather. Unfortunately a cold and damp morning was chosen for the open training session for season ticket holders on Tuesday:-

“Given the weather that we have been having, It would have been nice if it had been a better day. They still came out and it is great to put days like that on, great to engage with the fans and they get to see a wee bit of the work that we do and meet the players.

“In a game you get to see Lewis McCann get as many shots, that is why we did the shooting drill at the end down in front of them. The fans are the heart and soul of the club and to get them wanting to come back and support us, if we can help that in any way we are going to do that.”

James was delighted to bring in Sam Fisher on a season long loan from Dundee:-

“He is a player that I know really well. He was a youngster at Alloa and we took him to Dundee. I had him in the 18s and then gave him his debut in the first team. He has played in two of Dundee’s Premier Sports Cup matches this season already. He had a bad knee injury which cost him a part of his career.

“We will be patient with the players that we are trying to bring in, Sam is one that we have had to wait a little while for because Dundee have been waiting to get Lee Ashcroft back from injury. We are delighted that we could finally get Sam in.”

James has successfully brought in players from both Dundee and Dundee United . He was confident they were players who would enhance his squad, players that he knew really really well. He re-iterated his approach to signings suggesting patience was a requirement:-

“We are working away, we will continue to do that but it is about getting the right fit, the right type. It has to be what we are after and it has got to improve us above all else. They have to be the right characters.”

Kelty Hearts verses Dunfermline Athletic will not be the biggest derby that has crossed James’ path but he added:-

“I cannot wait, I love derby games. It will feel that there are a lot more there than there really are because it is such a small area. I am looking forward to it.

“It is another game, an important game, it is worth three points and the bragging rights because the clubs are so close. I have been involved in Dundee derbies, the Edinburgh derby, the big Midlands derby between Leicester and Coventry - big stadiums full - so it’s nothing that is going to phase me.

“We have players here who have been involved in Old Firm and Dundee derbies. Kyle Benedictus in Raith v Dunfermline. They have all been involved in big games, it is not going to phase them. We just need to go out, do it properly and keep our performance levels high.

“They will be looking to win their first game. It is worth three points and we want to win the game.”

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