Plagued with delays

18/07/12 - JJ: "It has just been one thing after another with delays." News of who won't and who might play v East Fife

Jim Jefferies feels that he has been plagued with delays and now the wet weather has added to his woes. The pre season friendly at Berwick had to be put back from Saturday until next Tuesday (24/07/12) and the friendly against East Fife on Wednesday night has been put back 24 hours, again because of the wet weather. Jim told the website:-

"It has just been one thing after another with delays over what league we are in. We only got the news two days ago, it has been very hectic and you cannot ask players to hang on for ever. You lose the ones you were interested in because you didn't go to the Premier League and it is like starting from scratch again.

"On the positive side some of the lads that we brought in early thinking that we were in the First Division could maybe nurture their potential with a view to being in the Premier League one day. I need to get experience in to help them.

"Weather has played a big part in the pre season build up; it will have been the same for all clubs because training grounds have been under water. The players have been good and just accepted it. Pitreavie has been good for us; we have got the gym, the astroturf and when the grass is not available they can get on the running track."

The Manager has a number of trialists training at Dunfermline but the postponement of games has created a problem there too. The game tomorrow night should see at least three trialists in action. The Manager explained that he should already have seen them in one friendly:-

"We have had boys up for two or three days training, a couple of them were due to turn out against Berwick but with that being off we have had to keep them longer. The quicker I get to see them in a game situation the sooner I will know what they are like. They look alright in training but you need to see them in a game situation before you can make a judgement."

Trialists will include Stephen O'Halloran who is out of contract at Carlisle United. The 24 year old left back was at Aston Villa and Coventry City and the Irishman from Cobh in County Cork was capped against Bolivia and Ecuador in 2007 following representative honours at U15, U16, U17 and U21 level.

Andy Dowie will miss the game since having had a slight strain he will be saved for the friendly on Saturday. John Potter will possibly fill in the centre of the defence alongside another trialist Conor Branson. The 20 year old Yorkshireman came up from the youths at his local club. Barnsley.

Paul Gallacher has done some training but goes back to the doctor in a week's time. Graeme Smith has just come back from Azerbaijan and has been training with Dunfermline. So in Gall's absence the 29 year old will start in goal but another trialist, who the Manager did not want to name, will get a run out at some point in the second half as well.

The only player from last season who is still training but without a contract is Liam Buchanan. Jefferies says that he will be having a chat with the 27 year old striker on Friday. "I can only make an offer and it is up to him to decide whether it is good enough or not."

Kevin Kyle has been taking part in the pre season training with his former boss. Jim added:-

"He has to watch because he is recovering from quite a long time off. He has done more than I expected, took part in a nine aside on Friday and seemed to enjoy it so he will be on the bench against East Fife just as a fitness thing to test him with some minutes on the park near the end."

Also missing on Thursday night will be Andy Barrowman and Joe Cardle who have sustained slight strains in pre season.  Kick off is at 7.30pm and admission prices are Adults £6, Concessions £4.