Contract ageed with Dowie

"I had a couple of options and I could have left but I always wanted to stay at Dunfermline whether it was the First Division or the Premier League.

Andy Dowie has agreed terms and signed for Dunfermline for another year. He told the website that he was pleased to be continuing his career with Dunfermline:-

"I had a couple of options and I could have left but I always wanted to stay at Dunfermline whether it was the First Division or the Premier League. It will probably be the same situation next year but I am getting used to it. There are more one year contracts being signed now than any other."

Manager Jim Jefferies made it clear that Andy was one of the out of contract players that he wanted to return and clearly he will be one of the most experienced players in the squad since the 29 year old defender made his 100th start for the Pars in the final SPL game against Kilmarnock. Now he is keen to see how the new squad can come together to form a team that can put up a good showing in the forthcoming season:-

"We have not really had the ball out that much in training so far but when we have on one or two occasions the boys were looking good. There is plenty of enthusiasm from the boys who have come in. The Manager has given them a chance to come to a big club like Dunfermline and it is up to them to take it. I am not saying that the enthusiasm was lacking last year but there is more of it and that can only be a good thing."

Andy who joined the Pars from Ross County for the 2009-10 season, admitted that pre season had been very hard but then every pre season is hard.

"I have a good few under my belt now so I know what to expect but it has been good to have the Manager, Gerry McCabe, Billy Brown and Neil McCann in. Everybody has got something to add and it has been great."

Last season was tough for players and fans alike. Losing games was always going to happen given the opposition in the SPL but after the huge success of the previous season this was not always easy to accept:-

"When you get beat and go home, your family life is never as good as if you are going on with a big grin on your face. It is horrible and it is one of the worst things getting beat at anything. We need to put last season to bed and concentrate on this season. Hopefully we can have a good season."

Andy Dowie in SPL action v Motherwell

There is no doubt in Andy's mind that his preference is to play in the Premier League:-

"That's a crazy question. Every player in the world would say the same - if you turn around and says First Division there would be something wrong. Obviously it would be much more difficult to win games but you would much rather be fighting in the SPL to get draws and victories than possibly winning every Saturday in the First Division.

"If we do manage to stay up in the SPL we will be fortunate but I definitely think if it is between ourselves and Dundee, we deserve to be up there. When I look at the SPL I can see a good four or five teams there that we could compete with and hold our own against.

"If we stay in the First Division then there would be local derbies and these would be exciting. Right now I am looking forward to getting the last part of pre season out of the way. I am looking forward to Saturday's game because it has been a while since 12th May. We can kick on from there."