Manager on Thursday

18/07/13: JJ - "For me, results are nice and you want to win, but it is all about getting match fit"

Jim Jefferies was delighted with the tough test his under 20s team encountered at Murray Park on Tuesday afternoon:-

"We fielded some of the seventeen year olds who had come on in the Hearts game but found ourselves up against one or two of Rangers first team players. We won 2-1 and that gave everybody a lift and a boost to confidence.

"We have had a meeting this week to keep us up to date with what's happening at the Club. The kind of things that we don't really want to concentrate on. There are still things that they tell you could happen that would not be ideal. We don't want to hear negatives, we want to stay positive.

"The players have been great, the training has gone well and they gave a good account of themselves in their first game on Saturday. We played especially well in the second half and by Hearts own admission we dominated it. I still think the first half was turned on a fantastic save from Jamie MacDonald from Andy Geggan. If we had scored there, Hearts might not have had the possession that they had.

"Hearts got a lift from the two quick goals and set plays are something we can work on. There was a lot to be pleased about  in the second half."

The gaffer was pleased with the performance of every one of the players he used and considers that they all showed that they could at some point challenge for a place in the first team squad.

"Maybe not instantly but they will soon be putting people under pressure. It is all positive on the football side of things."

The Manager has high hopes that the younger players can integrate into the first team in the same way as Ross Millen and Shaun Byrne did last season. He suggested that fans can look out for the likes of Lewis Spence, Ryan Williamson and Gavin Paterson. Scott Gray and Declan O'Kane can also come through.

"That is the pathway now. The system that I wanted to follow at the start of last season has now got to start again."

The staff meeting was with the administrator and Jim Jefferies claimed there was nothing that the management or playing staff could do to influence anything.

"The administrator has to keep us informed because if something was to happen they could be accused of not telling you anything."

James Washburn at Murray Park

JJ has had a close look at a trialist from English League Two club Torquay United, James Washburn. The Plymouth born player was recommended by former Par Craig Easton who has been at Plainmoor for the last year.  The Manager summed up the trialist:-

"He has a physical presence about him, maybe not up to the sharpness of our players yet but for a 19 year old he is a very commanding figure. He might be somebody we could develop because I think he has a lot of improvement in him. We asked him to stay on a few days extra and we will have a wee chat with him and see where that takes us."

Jefferies gave an update on where he was with the trialists that he was looking at in the last week:-

"We have got Ryan Ferguson wrapped up to come on loan for six months from Dundee United. Kevin Buchan has still got a bit more to show us - he has got some good points."

Kevin Buchan on trial for Dunfermline Athletic

Looking at the friendly against Falkirk on Saturday (kick off 2.00 pm) , Allan Smith is the only player likely to be out. The young striker damaged ligaments against Hearts and could be out for three or four weeks. The Manager is sure that the Auld Enemy will provide good opposition and continued rivalry on and off the park.

"They will be more experienced than us but we had close games last year. For me, results are nice and you want to win, but it is all about getting match fit."