Manager on Friday

03/12/10: Just in case the weather continues like this, we have already made bookings to go indoors on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday next week.

Team work for Pars gaffer Jim McIntyre started on Monday when with the assistance of six of his neighbours he dug a route out of his street.

"Obviously no one could get anywhere on Monday; it was a write off with most people stuck because of the snow. We got training facilities at Hamilton Dome on Tuesday morning and we had a spinning session at the gym across the road after that.

"On Thursday morning we managed to get into the indoors at Ravenscraig and it was absolutely fabulous. It really is top of the range when it comes to indoor facilities. We are doing between one and a half to two hour sessions because you need to watch the joints when you are training on the artificial surface.

"Today we were back at Hamilton so we have been very lucky to have secured the bookings. There are a lot of teams seeking these places so as you can see we have been on the ball. Just in case the weather continues like this, we have already made bookings to go indoors on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday next week."

So Dunfermline have done well for training facilities but looking ahead to the next possible action, Macca was pessimistic that Cowdenbeath could be the next opponents:-

"The Partick game has been re-arranged for Tuesday 14th December so it could be games Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday. Hopefully we will get that game played on Tuesday but it's struggling against the harsh weather. It was 13th November when we last played so there could be a month without a game for us but there's nothing we can do about it. Depends how you look at it we were lucky or unlucky not to have a cup tie two weekends ago but I'd rather be in the next round."

Dunfermline have been drawn away to Montrose in the next round of the Scottish Cup and perhaps their artificial pitch will have a better chance against the winter weather. Macca joked:-

"We would have preferred a home draw but by the time we go to Montrose we should be well prepared on 'plastic'. The match will be all about attitude; they will fancy their chances of claiming a scalp and we will need to do what we are good at and play to our capabilities. It will be up to us to make sure we reach the next round."

On the injuries front Jim McIntyre expects to have Joe Cardle back in training on Monday. Nick Phinn and Alex Burke have trained this week with no ill effect although the latter in particular is short of match fitness. Jack Ross is recovering from his knee operation and Jim McIntyre gave an update:-

"Jack is coming on well and he might be starting to run next week but unfortunately he needs grass for that and we know how difficult that might prove."

With snow causing the postponement of all but one of the matches in Scotland this weekend, the Manager is hoping the pitch inspection tomorrow morning at Alloa will allow him to watch the Second Division's Athletic play Peterhead.

"If that's called off it will have to be a family outing to the cinema."