Time runs out for striker

Massive blow for club and player as Graham Bayne will be unable to make the end of the month target set for him to return to fitness.

Graham Bayne: Future uncertain

Graham Bayne has had a reaction to the surgery he had on his foot in April that means he will be unable to make the end of the month target set for him to return to fitness.

It is not known if the injury will mean retirement for the former Dundee, Ross County and Inverness Caley forward but Jim McIntyre described the news as a "massive blow" but the player's injury just didn't fit into the club's timescale.

Graham in his final match for Dunfermline

The plantar fasciitis foot condition that causes inflammation of connective tissues along the bottom of the foot has sidelined Bayne since 5th December. Graham related his bad news:-

"I could feel it last week around Wednesday or Thursday so I had a scan and this showed that the tendon was inflamed. I had run for a day or so but this was not doing it any favours. To say I'm devastated is an understatement.

"I had a talk with the manager and the physio and can't speak highly enough of them. I still have two and a half weeks to go with Dunfermline so the manager said I should come in and use the facilities.

"Everyone here at the club has tried to help me. So I will try to maintain my fitness by using the gym and swimming over the next couple of weeks."

Jim McIntyre was very disappointed that Graham's injury had recurred.

"Graham's broken down and this is a big blow for us and him. He is going to take longer to recover and the club just can't take any risks. He's such a nice guy and good to have around the place and it goes without saying that we wish him all the best for his future."

Graham Bayne joined the Pars on a two year contract at the start of the 2008-09 season. Having played for Inverness Caley Thistle since signing from local rivals Ross County, he made the move to East End Park as part of a nominal fee transfer.

Graham Bayne started his professional career at Dens Park when he was only 17. In season 1997-98 he was given two first team appearances from the bench and his two appearances for Dundee in the next season were again from the bench and at the end of the season. An on loan period at Raith Rovers had seen him involved in nine league and cup matches but unfortunately without hitting the net.

The Kirkcaldy born striker made 14 Premierleague and Scottish Cup appearances for the Dees in 1999-2000 but it wasn't until he joined Arbroath in August 2001 that he showed his goalscoring prowess. Ross County snapped him up for the next season and in the two seasons there he made 64 appearances and scored 11 goals. Next stop was down the A9 at Inverness Caley Thistle.

Graham Bayne made 133 appearances for the Highlanders and scored 19 times. In the ten matches he played against the Pars he was never on the score sheet, but then he failed to score in the two SFL matches against Caley Thistle too.

Graham made 61 appearances for Dunfermline Athletic and scored on 14 occasions.