Shaun signs new contract

Centenary Club success allows further progress to be made on the field

Dunfermline Athletic are delighted to announce that Shaun Byrne has signed today (Tuesday 21st January) an extended contract to 31 May 2016. Shaun's current deal was due to expire at the end of this current season. This follows hard on the heels of Ryan Williamson and Lewis Martin signing extended deals last week, and provides a further boost to the Club's supporters that the Club are looking to secure the immediate future of some of our most prized assets. Shaun is pictured below with DAFC Director, Craig McWhirter at East End Park this afternoon putting pen to paper.

DAFC Director, Craig McWhirter stated-
"The interim Board continue to work hard at the present time with the Manager to try and secure the future of our talented young squad. It is so important that supporters understand that it is due to the success of the Centenary Club Lifeline, that the Club is able to extend the contract of Shaun, Ryan and Lewis. It is a credit to those supporters who have already become members, and it is hoped that this news will encourage more Pars fans to both sign up, and continue with their monthly membership in the long term.  It is this regular monthly income coming into the Club which allows commitments to be made to our talented young players".

A delighted Jim Jefferies added:-
"This is another fantastic boost for everyone at the Club and, like Ryan and Lewis last week, rewards Shaun for his performances on the park this season. Neil McCann has seen a lot of young, cultured players over the years at various Clubs and he rates Shaun as a player with great potential.  Shaun has played a fair few games now in the first team at a young age and has good composure on the ball.

"If he keeps his feet on the ground, which I am sure he will do, as he is a level headed lad, he could yet break into the Scotland Under 21's as I know Billy Stark has him on his radar.  I also commend Shaun for making an early decision on his future as it now allows him to be entirely focussed on his game without any another distractions. By signing these three young players on longer term contracts, the Club has got off to a good start and we hope other players will follow their lead and commit their future to our Club."

Shaun joined the Pars at Under 15 level, won a winners medal in Dunfermline team that won the Reserve League Cup for season 2009-10, captained the Dunfermline team that got to the SFA Youth Cup Final in 2012-13 and made his first team debut in August 2012. The talented midfielder has been a regular in the first team since making his starting debut in the Fife derby v Raith Rovers at the start of last year. Currently he has made 47 appearances for Dunfermline.

On putting pen to paper Shaun confirmed his positive view on the direction of the football club:-

"I'm obviously delighted that I've been offered a new contract. I'm looking forward to the next two years and the rest of this season. Since Pars United have come in everything is going great and the club is stable again and we are doing well as a team. We are really young and have only had a few blips this season but that could happen to any team."

Describing the atmosphere at the club as "just brilliant" Shaun relayed his personal feelings:-

"I've really enjoyed it, this season I have played nearly every game and I just want to play as many games as I can this year and try and cement a place in the team. I think I have come on as a player as well."

That successful development Shaun wanted to attribute to the significant influence of his coaches, John Potter and Craig Dargo and looking ahead he views this opportunity at Dunfermline as an important phase in his career:-

"Probably going back to last year with Potts and Dargs, when I was just in and around the first team but not really getting many games and just coming on as a sub they kept me going. They kept telling me to keep doing what I was doing and that I would get my chance. Potts has been brilliant. Obviously Neil McCann has been great this year as well and he has been telling me to get on the ball as much as I can.

"Obviously I want to keep doing well for Dunfermline, and then if something else did happen it would be great, but I have to try and keep playing well. I am happy to play here, I keep learning and keep progressing. Obviously I would need to play well for something bigger to happen."

The player is very confident that he can progress under Jim Jefferies and his staff at the club. He continued:-

"I just love it. The way the team play, it suits me and they play the ball on the deck and the good football and the way everything is high tempo. It suits the way everyone plays and it's been drilled into us all season, and I think it is only going to get better. It's definitely a good place to be. There are no cliques in the team and everyone seems close together. We are all in it as a team and you see from the games that we have gone behind in this season, we never give up on anything. We have won a lot of points from coming back from losing positions this season, it just shows you the team spirit that we have got here and it's brilliant to be a part of."

The success of the Centenary Club Lifeline has enabled the club to extend players' contracts and secure some of our most prized assets.