Happy to be a Par

Chris Higgins:- " I am delighted to be here, it is a big club and I am looking forward to the season ahead and hopefully promotion."

Chris Higgins scored his first goal for Dunfermline in Tuesday night's Pre Season Friendly at Methil:-

"I went up for a corner and the ball just fell for me nicely. I connected well with it and I am delighted. I am happy with my game, it was a good result and the team played well. We needed that after last Saturday. I don't think we played well enough against Hibs but hopefully we can build on it for the first competitive game at the weekend."

Chris' only goals last season were both against Dunfermline but he scored a few more for Clyde in previous campaigns. He knows that is not his main role:-

"First and foremost I am a defender but if I am up for a setpiece I will try get my head or foot on it to get a goal but the priority is a clean sheet."

Defence is going to be a big enough job for Chris since fellow central defender Andy Dowie, signed in close season from Ross County, is going to be out for at least the first four weeks:-

"We have been unlucky to get a few injuries; Calum got a cut eye against East Fife but hopefully the back four can play well on Saturday and get a clean sheet. I base my performance on a clean sheet."

The 24 year old who got into football as a 15 year old youth at Motherwell left the SPL outfit to gain first team experience at Clyde.

"It made me a better player, the first couple of seasons we had a good team and we did well then maybe the finances weren't there at Clyde and it was always hard. We worked away but unfortunately last season got relegated but fortunately for me it brought me here. I am delighted to be here, it is a big club and I am looking forward to the season ahead and hopefully promotion."

Chris can recall playing Challenge Cup opponents, Arbroath only once before at reserve team level when at Clyde but he is looking forward very much to this encounter since it will be his first competitive match for Dunfermline and he hopes to win it.

Chris mirrored the optimism that exists within the new look squad at present:-

"It has been brilliant since I came to Dunfermline. All the boys are good, the Manager is good - they are all good guys and all the new boys have been well welcomed.

"We have good options going forward and if we can keep it tight at the back then hopefully we can get up to the top of the league."