Assistant Director of Youth Football

It is a four pronged attack all geared to making Dunfermline's Youth Policy reap benefits in terms of getting players through.

Assistant Director of Youth Football, Jim Moffat has only been in the post for a few weeks but the former DA goalkeeper and Manager of East Fife explained his new role and progress:-

"It looks at four different avenues, the biggest thing for Dunfermline Football Club is the Player Improvement Programme through the youth set up, the Coach Support Programme through the youth set up, the Talent Identification to make sure we have the right players in and also Facilities under which the children are training and the coaches are using.

"It is a four pronged attack all geared to making Dunfermline's Youth Policy reap benefits in terms of getting players through. I am not taking over a team, I am responsible for all the coaches and the coaching of all the teams. Clearly that is quite a job in the sense that there are some 18 coaches and 140 children in the system.

"We have got to strive to create the links, not only with the community but also with the Boys Clubs teams where we are going to get a lot of our talent from, but also the Dunfermline community itself. Also we have to strive for a standard from these kids that is going to benefit the club in the long term.

"We know the rate of success through from youth team to first team is not high. If we could make it just a bit better than average it would be deemed to be a success. But also to allow these children to leave Dunfermline Football Club, remain involved in football at the highest possible level that they can be involved at, that is a big big job as well. It is not to let go and lose track. Let's ensure that these children are still engaged in the game."

So where does Jim Moffat start?

"The last three weeks have been busy, I have tried my hardest to get round as many training sessions as I can and as many games as well to see them in a competitive situation. Not just see how the kids are doing, but to see how the coaches are doing as well.

"That sounds a bit Big Brother-ish but it is not really, it is about striving for that standard. So I have tried to do that and I am in the process just now of putting together a small report for Jim Leishman and Craig Robertson where we will sit down and look at the points I am making.

"I think there are about fifty issues that I have identified and within these fifty issues there are several other bullet points that come in with each of these individual issues to drive the club forward again."

The task sounds large for the part timer who holds down the day time job at Bell Baxter School in Cupar:-

"I will not be shy on the work ethic, I never have been. Yes, Principal Teacher of Physical Education carries a degree of responsibility as well but it is an exciting time. It is a big job and will not be a short term fix. We have to look long term.

"I think the club has been a little bit unfortunate that the way things ended up with Jim and Craig doing the additional jobs that first team duties brought, the youth team situation has not been left in isolation but it has been allowed to tick over in the last couple of seasons. It is really just a drive to get the whole thing back on target again."

How much do you hope for the new Manager Stephen Kenny taking an interest in this side?

"We have got to prepare children to come from part time schoolboy situation into the full time employment and possibly Premier league situation. It is a big jump there. Hamish (French) has done a great job and Jim takes a terrific interest in the youth set up. Different Managers will have their priorities in different places. Stephen Kenny has just come in, it is an exciting time for the club and the Dundee United result was perfectly timed. I am sure there will be very positive changes going on all around the club. I couldn't have wished for a better time to come in as well.

"I have certainly not spoken to Stephen Kenny. I was introduced very briefly to him on Saturday, his priorities may lie fairly heavily with the first team squad and the full timers but he will also have that very big interest, I am sure, in knowing that the talent coming through is assured.

"It is an exciting time and I am very very lucky that Jim Leishman has approached me and we have just brought everything on stream at this time. The timing could not have been better. My initial three weeks have been very much watch and listen to find out what is going on and at what standard. Now I am ready to move forward, to what extent I can move forward will depend very much on Jim Leishman and the club's response to what we need to take a look at.

"There are financial implications there as well. We have six squads of part time football down from under seventeen down to under elevens, then you have your under ten bracket just below it and of course you have Hamish's under nineteens as well. It is a big youth set up but no different from any other performance club that is involved at this level.

"Dunfermline is a big area, a big community and a big community beyond the Dunfermline area as well. It is about building the relationship between the community and the club. I see very proactive things going on at the club that Dunfermline are wanting to be part of the community.

"Dunfermline doesn't often hit the highlights in the news, papers or television for anything other than the football. Of course there are other things going on like the recent election and having Gordon Brown in the immediate vicinity starting to push towards Prime Minister but normally it is the football side that brings the most notice to Dunfermline.

"Kids love football, parents will support kids at football and it addresses the obesity and fitness of kids. Let's get these kids playing sport and being active but also make them strong enough to realise and cope with the fact that they might not all make it to the Dunfermline first team. It is not for everybody, football is not for everybody. Children find their own niche as they move through things but there is nothing wrong with harbouring the desire and ambition. We have to be careful of these young kids as well because there is disappointment to be dealt with but we can deal with that if the coach education is right. If the club spirit is right we can help the children deal with that without losing face. It is a balance job.

"I am looking forward to it all immensely."