Stephen Kenny - More Views

Getting your best players on the park is the most important thing because football is about players and the second thing is filling in a degree of confidence within the group.

The new Pars boss, Stephen Kenny, had the players in for training on Sunday morning at nine o`clock ("for a recovery session") and will be in a few afternoons during the coming weeks as well. He needs to get to know his players and already feels that there is work to do on the tactical and technical side. He admitted that he has yet to get up to speed on all aspects of Scottish football and the history of Dunfermline Athletic:-

"I have watched Scottish football on Setanta all year and seen various games over the last couple of years but I still have more to learn. In terms of legacies of other people, stability is the word for us. We have to stay up then after that I can put a pre season in and create an environment to move forward.

"First of all we have to make sure that we get up the table and that is my immediate ambition" he continued. He discounted that means bringing in new players by cherry picking from his knowledge of the game in Ireland "it is a possibility but just because I am Irish it doesn`t necessarily mean that there will be an influx of Irish players.

"I have contacts in England and indeed in Scotland and Europe. Between now and the January window I want to give the players an opportunity to show me what we have. We have an injury list as well which I am a bit unsure of. A few achilles tendon injuries which are always uncertain as well. One of the things I have got to assess is the strengths and weaknesses of the squad then make decisions based on that.

"I haven`t got a wish list at the moment of definites that I want to bring in. Obviously I have players in mind in different situations that I like but there is no point in adding players in the wrong areas when you are working on a certain budget."

Stephen felt that the six remaining weeks of 2006 would be sufficient time to evaluate the squad of players he has inherited and that his past experience is ideal for what he faces at Dunfermline:-

"The three clubs I have taken over in the past have started at the bottom really. Every situation is different, there is no blueprint for what you are trying to achieve but I understand that confidence is key. Getting your best players on the park is the most important thing because football is about players and the second thing is filling in a degree of confidence within the group which is easier said than done. That comes with victories."

An addition to the coaching staff is one of Steve Kenny`s first wishes:-

"There won`t be wholesale changes, the changes will only be minor but I probably will add one coach to the team but that has not been confirmed yet. I would expect that to be in the next couple of weeks."

Jim Leishman had a role in bringing the Irishman cross to Scotland. Steve discussed how things might work out given that his immediate predecessor was still at the club:-

"To be honest I have never worked with a Director of Football, it is new for me. I have always been in control of everything, team affairs and things like that. I am not really one for compromising on relations and things like that but I think this situation is a bit different. Having met Jim and had a few meetings with him now at this stage I think he is very passionate about Dunfermline, that is what comes across.

"Director of Football can have different connotations for different clubs. Some Directors of Football decide on players coming in and so forth but this is not one of those situations. I am looking forward to working with Jim because he is a good personality to work with. It is good enjoying what you do and having people who are enthusiastic around.

"He is delighted to have me come in, well not just me - a new Manager come in at this stage, so that he can work on lots of other facets of the club to try and bring Dunfermline forward. You can see that there is a need for a different role, the Manager can`t do everything really. I can see why there is a need for a Director of Football in that regard."

Steve Kenny confirmed that as Manager of the club he would be hands on and take control of all the playing matters.

"I was offered the position as Manager of the club. I am delighted to take it, there is a Director of Football but I will work with Jim Leishman not against him. He will work with me, that is the relationship that we will have. Those of you who know him will recognise that as true. He will enjoy stepping back and sorting out all the other areas of the club that need to be sorted out.

"Jim has spent a lot of his career here and I think he was a reluctant Manager when he took over a couple of years ago, by all accounts. He ended up in a Cup Final so you can understand why he is staying on. He has a major role to play in the administration of the club and has experience in dealing with contracts at this level as well. That will be invaluable to me as well."