Coach plays his part

John Potter:- "As they have come into the team the fans have been great with them, they are behind their back the whole time.

Allan Smith and John Potter

The new look Pars may be tagged the 'Jefferies Babes' but John Potter as Under 20s coach has been working with at least half of them in his squad since the start of the season. Who better then to enter the fray with 15 minutes to go and provide the on field coaching to see the job out?

John was 33 in December last year and with more than a decade age advantage of every one of his current team mates that makes him old enough to call them all "kids". He did that as he spoke to the media after steering the Pars through to a crucial win over Cowdenbeath on Saturday.

"They are good kids, they work hard all season and now they are in the first team now. The Manager has shown great faith in them. I know that it has been different circumstances that had led to them coming in but I think he would have been putting them in the team because they have been great all year."

Since the departure of Gerry McCabe, John has assumed a greater role in preparing the team for matches. This includes going around every player in the warm up to fire them up with what he dismissed as "a bit of nonsense" and a team bonding huddle.

He was also appreciative of Jim Jefferies for the commitment to travel the length of breadth of the country to watch the under 20 s in action.

"He has watched them all year in Aberdeen, Dingwall, Inverness, the lot and told them how they can learn. They have done that and proven it now in the first team. They have had a great season, winning a lot of games this season and growing in confidence. It is not as though they feel that they are bottom of the league.

"As they have come into the team the fans have been great with them, they are behind their back the whole time. It doesn't matter if they make a mistake they just get on with it.

"The older boys round about them, well 22, are great professionals. They train with them every day and they are very positive with them."

It's a busy time for John Potter since his under 20 s will meet Celtic in the SFA Youth Cup on Wednesday 1st May. That will involve taking them through to the National Stadium next Monday for a familiarisation tour. Before that can be contemplated however Potts and his young squad have to continue to augment Jim Jefferies decimated squad in the vitally important league fixture on Saturday against Partick Thistle.

At least the Under 20 s know Firhill since that's where they played Celtic U20 s earlier this season:-

"It is in our own hands now, if we win two games of football then we stay in the First Division. It is a difficult task, we have to go there and show the same mental strength that we have shown in the last few weeks and get the result."

The young team has also reacted well to playing in front of spectators. Rather that the handful of interested parents and friends, a passionate and encouraging crowd like that at East End Park on Saturday has been great backing:-

"Even before the kick off they were great. In the last few weeks they have been right behind us. They know it is a young team and it has been a difficult year for all the players. It does make a difference when the fans are behind you all the time.

"We had to wait as the kick off was delayed but when we walked out the crowd was so loud and enthusiastic. It was great for the players."