cinch League One Manager of the Month

Dunfermline Athletic manager James McPake makes it two in a row as he is deservedly recognised for his success in November

The cinch Scottish League One Manager of the Month for November has been awarded to James McPake. While everyone associated with the club and all the fans would congratulate their manager for keeping them top of the division and for back to back Manager of the Month awards, James was at pains to point out the part played by everyone at the club. He told the website:-

“As I have said previously when you are receiving these awards the team is winning. With the team that includes everyone. Last month I spoke of how important the staff and the players are here but I think we can extend that because we have such a great togethernesses within the football club from the very top.

“In terms of the very top I mean the owners and David (Cook) right through the playing squad and the staff. I am not going to name every single person but just the relationships with Craig, Mo, Marie, Margaret, Matt, Shirley, Michele, Isobel and Kev & Willie - the work everybody does here is incredible.

“There will be people that I have missed out but I couldn’t talk unscripted without reading everybody’s name. How much time and effort everyone has given to myself and Dave since the day we came into the building. It has been tremendous so that award is for everyone at the football club.

“I know that it is the cliche but, like the players without the performances, without the right staff beside you and without the right people at a football club you don’t win games because there are problems in the background. You may get away with winning the odd game here or there but I think this one is for everyone at the football club.”

Unbeaten in November with away wins against Falkirk and Peterhead, James feels that everyone plays a part. Even in the absence of the injured trio of Paul Allan, Lewis McCann and Kevin O ‘Hara, he has deployed nineteen of his playing squad to see Dunfermline through the five matches played in November.

“At times we have been a back three, at times a back four, we have played with two strikers, we have played with three strikers, we have played with one striker.

“When you look at Kyle Macdonald’s performance at Falkirk to kick start this month, it was brilliant but we know he can do that. Kane Ritchie-Hosler came on against Clyde in the second half and for me he completely changed the game. He is a fantastic young kid who is willing to learn.

“Craig Wighton and Nikolay Todorov have sat on the bench. Rhys Breen has been exceptional this season, he is really hard working and great to coach. Myself and Dave spend a lot of time doing individual player stuff with the likes of Rhys but he loves it and that’s why we do it because he is always wanting it as does Todorov, Mochrie, Wighton - all them.

“Chris Hamilton is another one, we know his qualities and he is going to be at this football club for a while that is why we were desperate to get him on a long term deal. Does he sulk or is he happy when he is not playing? No he is not happy but he doesn’t sulk and doesn’t let that affect his team mates. That has been really important and that must continue. With the group that we have got that will continue.

“I know the questions will start coming about the January transfer window and something that myself and Dave are big on is character first and foremost. Obviously they need to be good players, you want to bring good players into your football club but they need to be the right people because we believe that we have a great group of players here. I think you see that in the togetherness but that all goes back to what I said at the start, there is just a great group of people at this football club at the minute. Myself and Dave are really enjoying working here.”

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