New deal for Craig Wighton

CW: - “I’m delighted that it’s finally agreed and I can just focus on the last few games."

Dunfermline have been given a boost ahead of Saturday’s show down against Queen of the South with the news of Craig Wighton signing a new two year contract.

Craig claims that his new deal was an easy decision to make since he says that currently it’s the most that he has enjoyed his football and he had ignored any interest from other clubs for his services as he came to the end of his current contract at Dunfermline.

“I get on with the manager and Dave really well, it was a no-brainer. I`m glad to get it done and I`m looking forward to the next couple of years. As soon as I got offered here, it was a no-brainer, I wasn`t thinking about other offers. There maybe was, I don`t know. I said to my agent as soon as they were in touch `let`s get it done`.  It`s been going on in the background for a few weeks, I`m delighted that it`s finally agreed and I can just focus on the last few games."

The 25 year old striker who was signed in February 2021 by Stevie Crawford has also played under Peter Grant and John Hughes in his 26 months at the club but the presence of James McPake and Dave Mackay as the management team was a big influence on his desire to sign a new contract:-

"One hundred per cent. Having that backing from the manager and Dave, it`s helped me play with a lot of confidence and maybe just takes that wee bit of pressure off me. I`ve enjoyed it, it is a great group of boys as well. It`s a good environment, it`s a good club to be at. They played a big part in that and hopefully we can go on achieve more good things."

Belief from management team Craig says helps the whole squad:-

"I think you can see that with not just me. A lot of the boys were here last year under the last couple of managers. It never worked out for whatever reasons but the manager was keen really early on to put that behind us. It was a clean slate for everyone. 

"I think you can see the way everyone is playing, he gives them that confidence and there is a real freedom to go and try things and enjoy yourself. As long as you`re working hard for the team, he doesn`t mind if you lose the ball. As long as you`re doing your job, go and play with a freedom and I think we`ve kind of thrived on that this year."

This season is going well for Craig with 30 starts in his 38 appearances and having scored 16 goals so far. He says goal targets are not things that he has set but agrees that it’s been a good return since returning from injury in September:-

“Hopefully I can get a few more between now and the end of the season. I might set myself a target next year but I never this year. We had a target as a group that we kept in here and that was to win the league. Hopefully we can do that on Saturday."

Now Craig has assumed the role as penalty taker as witnessed at Montrose he will possibly have the opportunity to extend what is already his best goals haul in a season:-

"Bene had missed that one and I would have been more than happy for him to keep taking them because he scored a few pressure penalties this year but he said that he wanted me to take them now, so I think that`s me on them. Hopefully we can get a couple more before the end of the season.

"I’ve taken a few before, I`ve obviously missed a couple before - people like to point that out to me. I’m always confident taking them and to go and try and score. It doesn`t always happen, the best players miss them, but I’ll always put my hand up to take them. Hopefully we can get a few more and get a few more goals before the end of the season."

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