Manager Post Raith

16/03/13: JJ - "We said to them that if the supporters are trying to help you, the least they deserve is the commitment and effort to come from you.

Pars Manager Jim Jefferies thought that his team's performance against Raith Rovers was "absolutely fantastic" given all the troubles off the pitch:-

"They showed a will and determination. They didn't play badly in the first half, I just felt Raith Rovers were winning most of the important balls that would have put their back four under pressure but that all changed after the start of the second half when we were more aggressive. We completely dominated the second half and it would have been a travesty had we got nothing out of that game.

"They are always dangerous when they break and their setpieces are always dangerous with people like Graham and Mensing in the air. I am not criticising the team from last week because it was a great comeback and we want to promote the youths but we had Stevie Jordan and Andy Geggan back and the team, with the exception of Josh Falkingham and Andy Barrowman, looked a lot more like the team that started the season. We looked more solid all round and what a tremendous effort in the second half after being 1-0 down.

"It easy when things are going against you to say what is the point? They never showed that at all and we said to them that if the supporters are trying to help you, the least they deserve is the commitment and effort to come from you. We got that in abundance today and I was really really proud of the team."

Referee John Beaton did not do much to help the Pars cause agreed the gaffer:-

"I have just said to him he didn't give a stonewaller when we were playing with ten men at Livingston; Dargo was just waiting on him to blow the whistle. Today we had one definite in the first half where there was contact (Jason Thomson on Joe Cardle) and possibly two good shouts in the second half but I don't think Mr Beaton will ever give us a penalty. I just hope that we don't get him too often.

"He is alright about it. I have gone in there and reminded him about the Livingston game and today so we will keep our fingers crossed that he doesn't miss any the next time he referees us."

The Manager was asked whether he had been updated on developments announced by the Steering Group at lunchtime?

"There was seemingly a meeting at the Club while we were reporting there for our team talk. Just before we started that team talk two of that Steering Group came in to see me and they will come down and tell the boys on Tuesday. They did say that things were a bit more positive; they couldn't actually confirm anything yet but they just said compared to yesterday there is a door opened slightly. It is all about trying to agree something and then going in there and in their words do the due diligence on the affairs of the club.

"They will get to uncover the whole thing and then find out whether they can take it forward or not. It is certainly a lot healthier than it was yesterday."

The Manager explained that Bob Garmory was positive initially but didn't look as positive towards the end of this week:-

"He came in today and looked a lot happier that  there was a big effort being made to get control of the Club. We are only at the early stages of that and I let the players know that before the game. I said that there might be a wee light at the end of the tunnel and if there is we have to stick together, go and do our best and keep everybody battling away for the Club.

"The supporters definitely played their part today and I heard them even when we were 1-0 down. That inspires you and the players showed that they weren't going to lie down and accept the situation. They were going to give it there all and they did that today."

Andy Geggan is accepting the banter for some of his midweek comments to the press about taking up a job and going part time but Jefferies stressed that this was not a joke:-

"We have said in wee five a side matches this week that he would be better taking up that job. I don't know how serious that is going to be, he maybe has the offer of that in the summer but it is my job to make sure that he changes his mind. I understand his plight, he has got bills and things to pay like everybody else and if that is the only way that he can get cash then I have to accommodate that by letting him go and train part time. It is sad that it has come to this but you have a full time player who might end up going part time. I would have to find training facilities for him and then he would just report to us on a Saturday.

"If it is all sorted out then great but I will be trying to convince him to be a little more patient. I think everything will be more clear when two of the Steering Group, and probably Jim Leishman as well, keep us up to date with everything. That is the only way that they can do it and I think the players have accepted that. The difference in the last two weeks has been at least we know the situation now.

"In the weeks leading up to that it was 'yes it will happen' - he just kept going on and on and on until a time when you think 'this cannot go on like this'. It would have been better saying three or four months ago the situation that we are in now. The players would have accepted that, knowing how bad it was but don't keep telling them that they are going to get it, get it - build their hopes up and then deflate them.

"There was a wee spell there where I felt the heart was being knocked out of them but hopefully the Club is going to go forward. If you see that team there today there were a hell of a lot of youngsters playing together for the first time this season. They will only get better if the Club can sort the situation out and we can try and keep them."