Wallace re-united with Jim Jefferies

"He said he kept tabs on me; I had a good season so he has taken a chance on me to bring

PICTURES FROM DAY TWO AT PRE SEASON TRAINING
Ryan Wallace joined Dunfermline from East Fife and he has told the website that he was delighted to sign for what he construed to be a "massive" club:-

"I have heard great stories about the Club but it has not quite sunk in yet that I am back in full time football at Dunfermline. Give me another couple of weeks and I think it will have settled in."

Ryan's one year deal at the Methil club had come to an end but because of his age a compensation package had to be agreed before the 21 year old striker was free to join the Pars:-

"I was at Hearts with the gaffer but after I got released he said he kept tabs on me; I had a good season so he has taken a chance on me to bring me to the Club."

Ryan is a forward who hopes that he can contribute as well as last season when he scored  27 goals. He described his style:-

"I score goals and I am pretty quick. I hope to add that to the team. I don't mind running down a channel but I prefer the ball to my feet. I like to get a touch, link up play - that's my sort of game but if I have to do the dirty side and go in behind then I will do that."

East Fife was not really where he wanted to be but Ryan feels that his season in Levenmouth made him become a man.

"You are playing in a bigger league and getting professional football. It did me good to go there and realise what it is like to go part time. Some people wouldn't realise how good it is to be part time."

Ryan spent seven years at Hearts in their Youth Academy but got released as he turned 20. He then joined Airdrie United in August 2010 before joining East Fife where he spent 16 months.

"I know Chris Kane from Hearts and I was asking him what happened to him because he had great prospects as a young boy to go right on into the first team. He told me that the manager wanted to keep him but those powers higher up said that he had to go. It is just the way football is. It is good to see him here; he is a fantastic player - a young fit boy - just the sort of player that the manager is looking for, young and enthusiastic to get on the ball."

If the vacant SPL slot is given to Dunfermline then it could be a big step up from Second Division football. Ryan already feels the difference between Division Two and Division One is a giant leap.

"We played SPL teams when I was at East Fife but we were underdogs right away so there was no pressure but coming to a club like Dunfermline you are going to be under pressure to win games. That is understandable but I will relish the step up and try and fit into the team someway. I don't mind fighting for a place but I know that they have some very good players here who have played at a higher level so if I have to fight for a place it doesn't bother me."

The 21 year old had sympathy for Jim Jefferies and his predicament in trying to shape a team for the new season while still not knowing which league they would be contesting:-

"It will be difficult to bring other boys in six or seven weeks into pre season. We have a game in ten days time, so to bring in players after that makes it more difficult for the team to gel together. Others might have to make way for experienced players but it has to be expected that he will go for experience if we get there. A lot of boys here already have SPL experience from last year.

"Training has been fast and high tempo so it will be good wherever we play. I am relishing the challenge, it will be long and hard with a double session on Friday and doubles all next week."

All this comes as no surprise to young Ryan since he heard of Jim Jefferies pre seasons from some of his colleagues at Hearts:-

"They told me that pre season under him is very, very tough. It is gruelling and it will be the longest week of your life! It doesn't bother me - it is what you are paid to do. You are paid to play football and get results, so it is what you need to do.

"We did the Yoyo Test and I had forgotten how hard it was because I hadn't done that for a few years but it was good to get the legs going again. I will take it as it comes and you can only take one day at a time."