Jim Jefferies on Thursday

19/04/12: JJ - "The problem for me is that although I know players from previous things, you don't really know them until you are in amongst them.

Pars gaffer, Jim Jefferies admits that there are not enough hours in the day and life is hectic at the Club:-

"We have had a couple of games where I have looked at players, I'm getting plenty of phone calls and meetings set up so I can get to know who is all capable of being available and if I have a chance of getting them.There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes that some people forget, that only people in football know what you have to do.I'm still watching games as well and you have to look at every avenue, for both scenarios."

If the Pars were to escape relegation then Jim would want to be better than this season since no one wants to be struggling again next year.

"We want at the least to give ourselves a better chance than we have done this year.  If we do go down, then we have to be good enough to come back up and stay up.  That's the challenge for me and that's why I took the job."

The Manager feels that he has not yet had long enough to assess the playing staff:-

"The problem for me is that although I know players from previous things, you don't really know them until you are in amongst them. You learn as a manager the things to look for and pick up, if they are on the same wavelength as you."

Jim has told the players that it would be a lot easier for him if they were in the stronger position which is staying in the league:-

"If not, we have to assess things and move on accordingly.I don't know enough about the players. Gerry McCabe has been a big help to me, he has been with them longer and he's honest. There are maybe things discussed privately between him and I and he will give me his opinion and sometimes I can see where he is coming from and we are on the same wavelength at times but I have the final say.

"I have 3 or 4 players back who have not played for me and I have had three games that they have not played for me. So are they better than what I have had?  I don't know that yet until I play them.  I have only five games left to find that out.  Its judging it, trying to gauge it, that is the problem but that is why I got the job.  They are hoping that I do gauge it quickly and can do it.The challenge was there, and I have always thought that this Club was a Premier league club."

Nick Phinn is one of the players coming back who the Manager has been able to see in recent bounce games where he got 30 minutes and then 45.

"He really needs an hour or afull game or something, but time is running out for him.I think Saturday will be too soon for him but maybe another full game next week if we can push him.  I will not push him towards the first team because if you have been out for that length of time the last thing you want to do is play him and then be out for next season as well.  We will have to watch that and I would rather him miss the rest of this campaign unless we are really in with a big shout and he is fit enough to go in, but he should be gearing himself towards getting a good pre season under his belt."