Ryan's Return

Goalkeeper Ryan Scully's return for another season on loan from Partick Thistle has come as no surprise to anyone. Despite signing a new contract at Firhill he would have been third choice after Paul Gallacher and Scott Fox, so the chance of gaining more experience through playing regular games for the Pars in League One was a simple decision to make.

"Thistle gave me a two year contract so it gives me a bit of confidence that they see me as one for the future. All I can do is go out and hopefully have another good season, get more games under my belt and more experience. I was always going to be going back out on loan and Dunfermline was my first option. We have unfinished business with not getting promoted last season. This year we are the favourites and hopefully we can do the business."

Ryan knows that the season ahead will mean returning to likes of Brechin, Stenhousemuir and Stranraer and the new venues to League One in Cappielow, Forthbank and Balmoor. That of course is a consequence of losing the final match of the season to Cowdenbeath in the play off final. That was Ryan's 46th game for the Pars but he confessed that it was not an outcome he or any of his team mates expected:-

"I don't think we saw that coming at all. To be honest Cowdenbeath were good on the day, the two strikers upfront were a big difference. I don't think I left my house for a week after that. I was locked in a dark room, it was a hard one to take. We will be all the stronger for that."

The play off final was very disappointing and Ryan understands the consequences of losing such an early goal.

"It was a killer in front of a great crowd that day. It is an old cliche that you keep it tight for the first ten to fifteen minutes but to lose a goal within thirty seconds with virtually the first kick of the ball flattened the whole crowd and flattened the tempo that we were trying to play at. It was a tough one to take but we will bounce back this year."

This season Ryan will not have to contend with three of last seasons opponents - Michael Moffat from Ayr United, Andy Stirling from Stranraer and Gregor Buchanan from Airdrieonians - have all joined Dunfermline as Jim Jefferies swooped to strengthen his squad. With the chances that Dunfermline create the presence of a top class finisher should make a big difference hopes Ryan.

"Michael Moffat is a great addition to the team, he was one of the best players we played against. Even with Rangers in the league and their strikers, he was still the top goalscorer. In the few days that he has been involved in training you can see the class he has got. He is a great finisher and I think that is what we lacked at the end of last season.

"We lost Ryan Wallace, Jordan Moore and Lawrence Shankland and that was always going to be a blow to the team. With our strikers out we relied on Thommo who is a midfielder as a make shift striker but it will be different having a guy who can bag the goals in regular."

Newly relegated Morton are expected to be the main contenders for promotion this season but Ryan is mindful that Airdrieonians finished the form team:-

"It is going to be tight, I can see Stranraer being good, Peterhead will be difficult especially going up there. it will be a tough league but last year we started well and finished twelve points clear in second. That was with a wee sticky spell as well so we need to hit the ground running at the start of the season."

Before the League One campaign gets underway the Petrofac Training Challenge Cup will bring holders Raith Rovers to East End Park for the opening game of the season on Saturday 26th July.

"It was a perfect draw. All the boys wanted a big game to get ourselves straight into it again. We are all looking forward to that and hopefully we can do the business. It is a home draw and with it being a derby hopefully we will get a good crowd."

Ryan has returned to pre season and apart from a short break to see family in Ireland Ryan has kept himself fit and ready for the double training sessions that got pre season underway:-

"It is not like the old days when you could come back two stone overweight, you have to keep yourself in a decent shape so that you can hit the ground running in pre season training. I did a bit over the summer and feel fitter since getting back on Wednesday. It will take a couple of weeks to get back to proper match fitness.

"Wednesday and Thursday was just running with the boys but Brian Potter has been in Friday and Saturday which was really hard. But it is good to get back into the swing of things."