Manager on Day One

22/06/11: JM - "The boys have come back in relatively good condition and they are obviously looking forward to the new season."

PICTURES ON DAY ONE
Jim McIntyre was pleased to be back in pre season at Pitreavie:-

"You are just desperate to get back into it. It feels like a really short break but it has been seven and a half weeks. That's as long as anybody needs.

"The boys have come back in relatively good condition and they are obviously looking forward to the new season."

Goalkeeper Chris Smith has lost an astonishing amount of weight and the Manager made special mention

"He has come back in fantastic shape and lost an unbelievable amount of weight. Chris was honest enough to admit that he had put on a few pounds; we told him what we expected and he went away and addressed it. That's a compliment to him that he has got himself back in tremendous shape to battle it out for the number one position. We are after that kind of competition for places all over the park; people fighting and keeping each other on their toes to get in that starting eleven."

The five new signings - Paul Burns, Paddy Boyle, Andy Barrowman, Paul Gallacher and John Potter - were welcomed into the squad but the Manager claimed no introductions were necessary:-

"They are familiar with each other with having played against each other. These days there are not many football players who don't know each other. They will get to know each other better in the coming weeks and the trip to Austria will enhance that as well."

Among the faces at Pitreavie on day one were new ones on the coaching staff too - Ross Hughes the new Sports Scientist and Jim Preston the Goalkeeping Coach, Jim has been goalkeeping coach at Falkirk and Celtic. Macca said that the budget last season had denied him the opportunity of having a specialist coach but he stressed how important it was to have one at the Club.

"Thankfully the Board have backed me on that. He will be part time working Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning and Ross Hughes will work the same days. Ross was Sports Scientist at Hamilton last season."

Training was one session on Wednesday - "low key" the Manager termed it but there will be double sessions on both Thursday and Friday. They will train again on Saturday before a day off on Sunday. Training will be solid next week ahead of a match on the Saturday against Livingston.

The Dunfermline Athletic squad numbers for next season were confirmed with Macca leaving a slot to bring in a right back. On that he added:-

"Until somebody who fits the bill becomes available we will sit tight. A lot of managers are scratching about for several positions at this time of year. We only need one, so I am quite pleased with how we have done so far and I will add when I feel that it is right to add."

Squad Numbers
1. Paul Gallacher
2.
3. Austin McCann
4. Gary Mason
5. Kevin Rutkiewicz
6. Alex Keddie
7. Joe Cardle
8. Martin Hardie
9. Andy Barrowman
10. Andy Kirk
11. David Graham
12. Steven McDougall
13. Paddy Boyle
14. Nick Phinn
15. Andy Dowie
16. John Potter
17. Paul Burns
18. Steven Bell
19. Liam Buchanan
20. Chris Smith
21. Pat Clarke
22. Paul Willis
23. Ryan Thomson