Manager on Thursday

31/10/13:- JJ - "We put in a performance that gave us a lot of belief last week because it was hard fought ...

Jim Jefferies is thankful that fans bucket contributions at the East Fife match have enabled his squad to travel up to Elgin on Friday to give them the best possible preparations for the Third Round Scottish cup tie against Elgin City the following afternoon:-

"It would have been an early start for us had we travelled up in the morning. We will train on Friday and head off from East End Park in the middle of the afternoon. We will get up there, have a meal when they arrive, relax and be prepared properly for the game."

Recognising that money is scarce at every football club, Jefferies feels that the new ownership at the club deserve a performance from the team that would make sure that they have the chance of a money spinning tie in the next round:-

"We would have the opportunity to draw somebody big that could make us more money than three or four rounds with smaller clubs. We want to give the fans another round to look forward to and that will be the players agenda. It is vital for the players, vital for the club and vital for us. We are all wanting it, it is not just the fans, the players are wanting it as well.

"We are up against a team that we cannot afford to underestimate; we are a young team ourselves and every team we face, as I have said many times, have all got experienced players and Elgin are no different. They have one or two who are big and strong. I watched them a couple of weeks ago at Berwick and they came back from 2-0 down. They have a bit of spirit about them."

Elgin ended up losing 3-2 at home to Annan Athletic last Saturday while Dunfermline were putting in a gritty performance to come back to win from a goal down. The Manager was really satisfied with the performance at Stranraer, as much as the result.

"We put in a performance that gave us a lot of belief last week because it was hard fought and possibly a dress rehearsal for the type of game that we will get on Saturday. The result last week put a bit of bounce into us again after the East Fife game. I don't know if I should call that game a defeat because it was more a mugging than a defeat to be honest. That happens in football, you just have to accept it. It will happen more because we are a young side learning."

The squad from Saturday might be bolstered by the return of Jordan Moore who trained on Thursday. Ryan Thomson didn't train on Thursday after tightening his hamstring on Tuesday but worked out with the physio and is fine. Chris Kane is suspended for the cup tie because of a red card for violent conduct in the 20s match against Partick Thistle last week.

The on loan players were signed before the SPFL was formed and the rules were changed. Now the rules allow four on loan players but they must come from separate clubs. Dunfermline have three players from Dundee United - Jordan Moore, Luke Johnston and Ryan Ferguson - but this would not be allowed to happen again.

"There might be a problem once these rules kick in and when these boys contracts end at the end of the year. Maybe we could only keep one and two of them would have to go back.

"I was worried because this is a Scottish cup tie we might only be allowed to use one player but the answer to that is no. We can use whoever is here but we have to get agreement from Dundee United to confirm that they are happy for these players to be cup tied at Dunfermline Football Club. They have confirmed that they have no problems playing any of the three of them although the paperwork has yet to be done."

Jefferies praised the Centenary Club Lifeline scheme that was launched on Tuesday night in the Alhambra.

"They have come out with this new scheme that is appropriately called Lifeline because the fans have given this club a lifeline, given the players a lifeline to play and stay together. It is hard, these members who have been paying £8.66 are being asked to pay almost £12 more a month. If you break that down to £3 per week, I am sure that a pint of beer or a packet of cigarettes can cost more. You tend to try and make it sound like it is not too much.

"If we can get a thousand people paying that kind of money that would be £200,000 per year - that would pay half the wage bill! It is easy to buy a football club, harder to run it. It needs money to come in on a regular basis. A cup run or at some time in the future selling a player would all go to keeping the club alive.

"It was very positive on Tuesday night and some of the questions asked were great. When Ian Hunter explained things in layman's terms - about the stadium and the shareholding and the protection that the club has got on the stadium - he explained it well. You can see that it is in capable hands and it gives you a lot of encouragement. Everyone walked out the door re-assured. We have to learn lessons from the past."

Jim Jefferies has still to sign his new contract but he has discussed 'The Way Ahead' with Ross McArthur:-

"I think that we will be announcing a continuation of the strategy we adopted last year; to go down the pathway of the youngsters. He wants a continuation of that, it is something that will be announced next week."

Last Thursday afternoon the Manager took in a friendly that his U20s supplemented by five trialists, played against a Nike Academy team. The academy yielded Alex Whittle from a previous trial and Jefferies saw some potential during the trial at Broxburn Athletic's ground.

"There are a couple of players that I'd like to see again in our environment, training with the first team boys. Neil is getting some information sent up to give me their backgrounds. I am not sure about them yet. I will have them up for a week and see how they feature."