Retiring Comments

Jack Ross talks about his reasons for retiring and gives an assessment of Dunfermline's prospects this season.

Jack Ross has not been able to return to training full time and on Thursday 3rd February he announced his retirement: due to a knee injury:-

"Having consulted with the appropriate medical people - physios, doctors and surgeon, I have had to come to this decision. It is never easy for a player but in saying that I am 34 and I have enjoyed my career. I think I have had a decent career and I have loved every minute of it. It might take a little bit of time to sink in but you have to be sensible about it and reflect on the good times that I have had. I have been fortunate, there are a heck of a lot of other players who don't get to play at the decent level that I have played at and also others who have to curtail their careers a lot earlier."

Jack claimed that the Dunfermline players will take on Aberdeen on Sunday wanting to test themselves against a Premierleague team in Aberdeen.

"If they play as well as they can - people credit them as the best footballing team in the First Division - and if they go and produce that kind of football then they are capable of getting a positive result from the game."

He gave an assessment of the Dunfermline squad he leaves:-

"Wullie Gibson recently went to Crawley Town because there was more on offer for him there. Wullie had a short spell in the SPL but he was capable of turning games for Dunfermline. The Manager is fortunate that he has other wide players who are out and out wide players like David Graham and Joe Cardle who are capable of producing that bit of magic that Sone Aluko does for Aberdeen. Those players offer something different, Andy Kirk will be well known from his time at Hearts and he is a proven goalscorer wherever he has gone.

"Throughout that side they have good options going forward. There is an attacking threat throughout that side, they have good options going forward and hopefully that will be shown on Sunday."

Despite it being the Scottish Cup on Sunday, Dunfermline's away form is no match for their results at home. Away from home: three wins, one draw and five defeats is in stark contrast to the unbeaten home form. Jack admitted that those stats would be a concern for Jim McIntyre.

"He is so happy with the home form because it was a problem for them in previous seasons but to get that as good as it has been then lose a bit away from home is frustrating. The cup tie will be a different type of away fixture and I think it can inspire players. They went to Pittodrie very recently and on in the cup, that will stand them in good stead. There will be good travelling support, hopefully a good home crowd as well and I think that there are a number of players in that Dunfermline squad who will want to demonstrate that they are capable of playing at that level week in week out."

Jack Ross played in both the First Division and the SPL during his career at Falkirk and then St Mirren, he suspects that on a one off basis the gap between the two leagues is not that great:-

"Especially between the clubs at the top of the First Division and the SPL. The difference is that the players in the Premierleague are capable of producing it consistently. That is the key. Having trained with Dunfermline when I was fit and watching them in games, there are a number of them who could play in the Premierleague. They would then have to try to produce that form on a weekly basis which is another challenge. There is added pressure in the Premierleague as well because there is scrutiny of your performances so it is about having the mental strength to withstand that.

"There are bigger crowds and you have to be able to handle the criticism because there is more criticism comes your way. It goes hand in hand - the more successful you are, you tend to be more criticised as well. Players like Calum Woods played in the SPL as a young player with Dunfermline and have gone back to the First Division and matured physically and mentally. In my opinion in watching him, he could easily go and play full back in the Premierleague. Clubs have expressed an interest in him in the past."

Jack may have retired from playing football but he says that he is keen to remain in the game:-

"With my involvement with PFA Scotland and the work I have been fortunate enough to do at the BBC still staying in the game, I have enrolled to do my A Licence assessment in the summer. All being well I can complete that in the summer if I can pass it. That could prepare me if an opportunity comes along. Ideally I'd like to stay in football and if it is through a combination of all these things, then alright."