Manager on Thursday
Thursday, 15th Jan 201515/01/15: JP - "Following the result at the weekend, I felt that I had to put things my way.
John Potter has had a full week since the disappointment of a 2-2 draw at Forthbank last Saturday. He had had his players in every day since and as well as training hard they have had a daily 'lecture'.
"We have talked about what we think needs to be done. We need to spend more time on the things that we need to work on. It has been good, the players have loved it and it has been an enjoyable week I think. We also managed to bring in two new players as well!
"Training has been much the same but I just think that we can spend a bit longer working on little bits and pieces. When I got the job I did make some changes but I didn't want to come in and completely change everything right around. Now following the result at the weekend I felt that I had to put things my way.
"I told the staff on Sunday morning that I wanted to make changes then spoke to the players and told them that they were going to be here working harder and longer, doing more individual things because what they are doing now is not good enough.
"We are not getting results on a Saturday and that is the most important thing. This is the way that I want to do it and it will continue this way as long as I am here."
The manager is pleased to have brought in Andy Barrowman from Morton and Kyle McAusland from Rangers. Making way for them meant the exit from the club of Ross Forbes who departs in the slipstream of other departures of the Potter era Gozie Ugwu, Sorel Chemin and Ross Drummond.
Kyle trained with Dunfermline for a week in pre season and Potter revealed that he had liked what he had seen of the player.
"For one reason or another it just couldn't happen at that time. We stayed in contact and I had heard that he was maybe leaving Rangers and that Brechin were possibly interested again so I got in touch with his agent to ask him to keep us in the loop if something was going to happen.
"Early this week I got a call to see if we were still interested. I said 'yes' and made him an offer. There were no negotiations he just said yes 'I want to come'. He was really keen to come and wants to play. He gives us something that we have not got; a central midfielder with height and strength. He is physical but he can play well.
"He can play in two or three positions but I see him first and foremost as a central midfielder. He played his eleven games at Brechin in that position and scored three goals. He can play in various areas and played right back and centre back at Ayr but I have brought him in as a central midfielder. That is where he is keen to play and that is where I will give him his opportunity.
Both new signings are on short term contracts until the end of the season. The manager was pleased that both were very keen to join Dunfermline Athletic especially since he appreciated that they could have earned more money elsewhere.
"It is a good sign for me that players want to come and play here. As long as they have enough to live on, they just want to come and play for this club. It is still a big selling point."
John Potter was frank with Andy and Kyle who he wants to try and help Dunfermline back up the league and promoted:-
"I just said we are where we are at the moment but if you come in and do well, you will get praise for it from the fans, from the club, from myself because they might turn round and say that these are the ones that helped turn fortunes for Dunfermline. They can put themselves in the shop window as well so there are loads of positives for them."
The gaffer predicted a couple more ins and outs before the end of the January transfer window. Targets include a creative player. He is very aware that there are teams in the Championship who are looking for similar types of players as well.
"It can be difficult but this week proves to me that we can still attract players at this club."
The match on Saturday is against an Airdrieonians side that defeated Dunfermline 3-1 just over a month ago. John felt that game at the Excelsior had been one of the poorest of the Pars season:-
"We didn't perform, we gave soft goals away and really didn't create much. Airdrie had been on a good run but obviously got beat last week (against Peterhead) but we have just got to worry about ourselves. We need to get on some kind of a run. Our performances before last Saturday were decent but still no wins. Last Saturday, the first half was okay but second half not acceptable.
"We need to turn things around and hopefully we can do that. We had a good training session this morning and looking around I see a stronger squad and it is up to the eleven that go out on the pitch to do the things that we ask and make sure that we get the win."
The Dunfermline squad will be without the suspended Andy Geggan, Ryan Williamson is injured but Ryan Wallace has been taking part in training and is fit and in contention for a starting place.
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