Manager on Thursday

17/04/14: JJ - "In my opinion, once you've played your 36 games, any suspensions should roll over to next season,

Jim Jefferies was happy to reflect on the achievement of the club's shot term goal in secure second place in League One, a task made all the more difficult because the teams in form of late are all in the bottom half of the division.

"The players have found out that getting over the line is the hardest part in any sport, whether it's the last frame in snooker or wicket in cricket or anything. The teams below us have found it tough as well to clinch their play-off place.

"But we've got over the line for second place in 33 games and the players deserve enormous credit, because we've faced a lot more teams with a lot more experienced players than us.

"It's been a learning curve, as well as coping with the expectation levels, and it's been a fantastic achievement to get it sewn up with three games to go. That allows me to now look at the play-offs and take into account the players with bookings. And it's not just the players who are one booking away from a suspension; it's the ones who are two bookings away as well, because if they collect another in the next few games then it could affect the play-off games.

"In my opinion, once you've played your 36 games, any suspensions should roll over to next season, it shouldn't come into effect in the play-offs. That's unfair because there are players playing more games than anybody else in the league.

"They should wipe the slate clean, I think, when it comes to the play-offs, like they do in the World Cup. Every team should start with a clean slate again. A player could play in the first game of the play-offs and miss the last game because he's suspended if his team gets to the final game.

"But that's how it is, we've checked it out and they do count, so we have to make sure we don't take any risks. At least if they're two bookings away from a suspension going into the play-offs it's unlikely they're going to miss any of the play-off games. So, playing them before is always a problem, but you have to because you can't leave them out for three weeks."

Ryan Wallace won't face Ayr United this time

The Manager admitted that his squad has got a few niggle injuries ahead of Saturday's match at Ayr and also a few players close to a ban.

"We'll look at giving a few younger players an opportunity. We've got two or three on four bookings and a couple on five and there's no way I can say just forget about the rest of the games. That would mean in three weeks' time they might be a bit rusty.

"Even though you might find that there will be a few changes on Saturday there will be less changes the following week and then we're more likely to make a lot of changes against Rangers, because it's only three days away from the first play-off game.

"We're trying to box clever and look at the bookings and the ones with niggling injuries and the ones who maybe need a wee break. You've just got to juggle it around the best you can, without making it too long before players play.

"I still look at the team in my mind for Saturday as a strong team. They've more or less all played a fair number of games in the first-team. We recognised our whole squad as potential first-team players.

"There have been one or two in the under-20s who have been knocking on the door and deserve a chance. This is a chance with the pressure completely off, just to go out there and relax and show what they can do. We still rate them as first-team players and sometimes it works in your favour and you get a right freshness about the whole thing. We won't be making it easy for anybody, we still want to win the game, but it's a good opportunity to give players like Lawrence Shankland a rest.

Ryan Wallace in action v Airdrieonians

"Ryan Wallace is away down to Bradford to get a check on his injury. He's seeing a specialist who I think worked with Danny (Grainger) one summer. He's just going down for a consultation to see what needs to be done in the long-term, in the summer.

"We're looking at him getting an injection just now and you've got to time that injection right. We're probably looking at giving him at least part of a run-out against Rangers. At least to have him available for the play-offs would be great, but he's got to be right. There's no point him going out there into an important game like that and only being half-right. So, we need to test him and he needs to get a full week's training under his belt."

Jim Jefferies reported that he had taken a call from Dundee United, just to keep him up to date on Jordan Moore who underwent an operation recently on  skin cancer. Jordan had attended Dunfermline's home game against Forfar last Saturday. The Manager continued:-

"He came to the game last week and he was bouncy enough, but they're concerned obviously about him getting a knock on the area. So, we've just got to be guided by the medical people.

"But I don't think Jordan will take any part in the play-offs. If he does it would be great because there's always a goal in him. But it's unlikely and the main thing is his health. It puts everything into perspective. For a boy of 19-years-old to go through what he's done is trauma enough for him. We just hope he's young enough to battle it, fight it out and get clear."

Jordan Moore at East End Park Saturday 12th April

Faissal El Bakhtaoui is the latest player to be considered for an extension to his contract explained the Manager:-

"I have been speaking to the contact that I dealt with who brought Fais to the club. We only did that the other day and I think they've still to discuss it. But I don't see any problems. Fais has broken through this year and done well, and deserves it.

"We moved him in with Callum Morris and he's picked up a lot more of the language, and he's come out of his shell a wee bit. He's done well to break through but he's got a lot to learn yet.

"He's in his early 20s but you have to remember he was playing futsal in France a couple of years ago, and had hardly played 11-a-side. Then he came to Scotland, which was totally different to what he had experienced at amateur level in France. We always kept him because we saw something in him and he works his socks off for the team."

Turning to the next match the Manager's answer to the question 'will we see a few changes on Saturday?' was merely "possibly". It is the sixth game of the season between Dunfermline and Ayr United and yet the Somerset Park side could be opponents in next month's play offs. He continued:-

"It could be Ayr United we play in the play-offs but they'll not learn a lot on Saturday. We've done well against Ayr this season but it will be a good test for some of our boys. We're not going down there just to see out the game, we're going there to try and win.

"I've said to the boys that even if we make a few changes there's still a challenge for them to give me something to think about for the play-off games. If they perform well or they stand out I'll have to consider them. It's a challenge for them to go and do well.

"The game doesn't matter in terms of positions in the league but we've got supporters going down and we always want to win. There are going to be a couple of players who are going to make their debuts, which is good for the club and it could be that three quarters of our squad could have come through the youth system here."