Stephen Kenny Post Match

The second goal is the one that gives you a bit of hope for the future. It was a goal of perseverance

Post match, John Yorkston introduced Stephen Kenny as the new Dunfermline Manager.

"We have waited a week or two to get him. Hopefully, the way it's been it is worth it, we have had a good start today but you are not hear to listen to me, you are here to meet Stephen Kenny."

First impressions from Stephen Kenny:-

"They are that the team look a little bit imbalanced, because some players are coming back from injury the fitness levels were not quite there in some. We were under a bit of pressure in the first half, the two centre backs Scott Wilson and Greg Shields kept us in it really. There was very good defending, good blocks on shots and defending crosses as well. Generally showing some leadership.

"I think Dundee United deserved to go ahead, I don't think we can argue with that. It was a good goal from their point of view and we looked a little bit in trouble then. We got the goal from the set play. Again the two centre backs figured, Scott leapt really high and Greg put in a great finish.

"I felt that once we got the goal we looked a new team. We had a bit about us, a bit of confidence. Some players looked like they gained in confidence and the second goal is the one that gives you a bit of hope for the future. It was a goal of perseverance. Stevie Crawford, I was sure the ball was going out of play, I didn't think he was going to get there. He just dug in to get that cross in, Gary Mason made up about 60 yards from the centre of the park. From his own half to get there and he has made that by sheer guts really and had the quality to stick it in the top corner."

What attracted Steve to come to Dunfermline?

"It is a good opportunity to come to Dunfermline. Alright we are the bottom of the league but it is only a third of the way through the season, not even half way. The Scottish Premier League is a step up from the national league of Ireland and it is a good opportunity to manage a club like this. To be honest when you think of some of the names who have managed and played here, they are not just leading lights in Scotland, they are leading lights in European football in the past.

"For me to follow in their footsteps, I would not compare myself with them for a minute, but even to be taking over a club, though it might be many years ago, I still consider it an honour and I look forward to doing my utmost and try to do the best I can."

Had Stephen Kenny witnessed enough in the win over Dundee United to believe that a climb out of the relegation zone is possible?

"I don't think we were free flowing so I am not going to talk us up. If you have a chance of survival there was no greater moment to illustrate such a point than the second goal.; That gives me hope. It is only one win, I am not going to overstate but because it was against one of our rivals in the bottom three, a defeat would have been significant. From that point of view to get the three points can only give the players a boost."

What was the new man's message to the fans who had gone through such a torrid time culminating in the embarrassing home thumpings from Hibs and Falkirk?

"Well really I think it is to encourage the team. The true value of supporters; everyone can sing when you are top of the league or in the top three, the true value of supporters are when you are at the bottom. That's real support to stick by your team when it is going through poor moments. If you do that then it makes the good times even better. You reap the awards then and the fans really appreciate that having been through a lean period."

Since last Saturday Derry City have beaten St Patrick Athletic 1-0, Waterford by the same margin on Monday and then completed their league season with a 1-0 home win against close rivals Cork City. Would avoiding relegation at Dunfermline make up for the disappointing end to his period of tenure at Derry City who lost the Eircom League title on goal difference less than 24 hours previously?

"Well, it's funny because I had mixed emotions last night because basically Derry had a game every three days for the last three or four months, it has been relentless. We had three games in the last week, the players responded to my ask and we won the three of them. Two of them were away and we won the two of them in the last six days yet we lost out on goal difference which is very unusual. They won the League Cup and are in the FAI Cup Final so they have a great chance of two trophies plus the European run which is as good as you probably are going to get.

"This is different, this is a new chapter for me now taking over Dunfermline" explained Steve who had to leave Derry at five o'clock this morning to drive to Belfast to get a flight to get in this morning.

"I have had very little sleep, just to meet the players and try and get involved today."

That involvement was not quite he had envisaged but clearly Steve is passionate about football and cannot be keep a low profile:-

"I had no intention of going in at half time. I was just going to watch the game from the stand but I couldn't stop myself. I had to get involved and I wanted to get into the dugout at half time but my name was not on the technical sheet. We asked the referee but he wouldn't let me because wasn't on the sheet going out before the game. I asked him but he said I couldn't, such are the rulers of the SPL. I wanted to get involved but it is some solace to get a win."

Asked by Talk 107 to describe his strengths Steve's reply highlighted his hunger for success:-

"Well, I don't think that is for me to say. Basically I work hard and try to create an environment where there is a level of professionalism that players will aspire to and a competitiveness within the group. There has to be competition for places and the players all want to be better than each other. Every training session has to replicate a match situation. It is healthy that in training the players want to push themselves to the limits to try and get better. There has to be a collective will to try and win, that's all."

The intervention of Steve Kenny certainly made a difference at half time. The team came out 4-3-3 with Stephen Simmons pushed up but Steve would not reveal what he had said:-

"That's private, I can't really say exactly what I said. Again, talk is cheap anyone can say anything, it is going out on to the pitch and doing it, that is what it is all about. The players were in the dark, they were not really sure who I am or what the story is. I understand the apprehension and the unorthidoxy of coming in on match day. That is unusual and a bit surreal for me.

"You like to get in amongst your players and get on the training ground and work on what you can. When the chips were down the leadership of the two centre backs shone through and was a real, vital ingredient for us getting a victory."

Derry City have still to play their Irish Cup Final on December 3rd against St Pats at Landsdowne Road. It appears his priorities lie in Scotland but will return to Ireland for the final.

"They have asked me to stay on and get involved but I am committed 100% to Dunfermline now. There was a feeling to finish the season but Paul Hegarty was my assistant there, he might manage the team and might join him in an advisory capacity on the day. That is a possibility, nothing has been decided.

"I have to speak to John Yorkston about it. It is a grey area really. Dunfermline were patient in waiting for me to finish the two weeks. It would have been remiss of me had I walked out on Derry with two weeks to go in the league season. It wouldn't have reflected well. Ideally I would have wanted away after the Cup Final but with the situation Dunfermline were in that was not going to be possible.

"There is a limit to people's patience when you are bottom of the league, they understood that as well. The board at Derry was tremendous and the parting has been very amicable."