Pars Clyde siders lose

Jordan White and Lee Graham both started as Clyde went down 3-1 to East Fife in Brown's last throw of the dice

In the past three weeks Second Division strugglers, Clyde have signed the Pars U19s Lee Graham and Jordan White on loan. On Saturday they featured in a home defeat to Stevie Crawford's East Fife, a result that marooned Clyde at the foot of the table three points behind Arbroath whose match was postponed.

Clyde manager, John Brown explained in his match programme notes how the two loans from Dunfermline had happened:-

"The deals came about as we have been phoning around and John (McCormack) has a good relationship with Gerry McCabe and Gerry mentioned that the two lads could be available for us.

"Lee Graham made his debut against Cowdenbeath and did well. It was a tough ask for him considering the fact that he didn't know the lads and had never ever played in a back three before.

"Meanwhile, Jordan gives us another option upfront. Jordan's maybe raw but he is a good size and can link the play up well. We have seen already in the games that we've watched that he has got a great eye for goal, he got his debut last week up at Brechin and impressed as he worked well with Sawyers. Both lads are eager to play and want to gain experience with us as opposed to reserve and under-19 football."

Both Lee Graham and Jordan White spoke to the DAFC website after the match. Lee confirmed::-

"It is good at Clyde, all the boys are good to talk to and have made it feel like I am at home and welcome. John Brown and John McCormack talk you through things, they don't just shout at you. It is a bit of experience for me."

Lee and Jordan train with Clyde on Tuesday and Thursday nights and with Dunfermline on Mondays and Fridays. On Saturdays they are with Clyde. Jordan has started the two league games since he arrived and Lee three. Clyde play 3-5-2 so Lee has had to adapt to the way the Second Division team want to play but has fitted in well alongside Alan Lithgow and Mark Casey.

"It is different getting used to it but I am starting to blend in and hopefully I can keep playing in that slot." Lee went on to say that he has enjoyed his games against Cowdenbeath, Brechin City and East Fife:-

"This is better than playing under 19s or reserve games; they are more physical. It's maybe not the best of football but it is a harder challenge for me. I am here until January 17th then I go back to Dunfermline. I would hope to get into Dunfermline's first team or stay here until summer to get a game.

"Nobody is going to take you unless you have had first team experience so you have to come out and get experience at a lower level then hopefully move back up and on to better things."

Jordan White started at Brechin last Saturday and played for 80 minutes before coming off. On Saturday Jordan was not so fortunate being subbed in 54th minute of the match against East Fife. He did not know why the manager had pulled him so early, naturally the 17 year old who had gone to Clyde to get match experience was deeply disappointed. He commented:-

"That's just football isn't it, you just have to get on with it. You just have to hold your head up high and hope that I can show enough in the next game so that he doesn't take me off."

The surprising and apparently unwarranted early substitution annoyed the young Pars striker but at least the home crowd applauded him off, more than they did for their manager! After going down 3-1 to East Fife the Broadwood fans were very vocal in communicating their disappointment with renewed cries for the manager's head. Later that night it was to be announced that John Brown was indeed their manager no more.

Jordan is trying to get stronger and he has enjoyed the first team involvement at Clyde:-

"The training has been a good tempo. I felt that I had a good debut at Brechin; the team played well. Some people said Brechin deserved the draw but I disagree, we hit the woodwork three times and played well. That just didn't seem to be there today."

Jordan's loan period is to the end of January and his ambition is to notch a few goals while at Clyde.

"There weren't many chances today but we have to try and work away to create them. We thought going into the game that we had a good chance, we were confident but it just didn't happen."

Next Saturday Clyde meet Third Division high flyers, Livingston in the Scottish Cup but on their showing against East Fife they will need to do better if they want to progress to the next round. The on loan Pars will be hoping to play their part and there is no doubt that both Lee and Jordan are fully committed to their new club.