First Interview with Allan Johnston

08/05/15: New gaffer is "absolutely delighted" to be joining Dunfermline Athletic.

The newly appointed Dunfermline Athletic manager gave his first interview to this website this afternoon. He said:-

"I know that this is a massive club with a lot of tradition and it is a big challenge. There were a lot of people interested in the job and you can see why because of the size of the club, the supporters' base and I think that there is a lot of potential here.

"You want to be successful and I think that this is the right club to do it. I am a young manager and you feel as though that you have to prove yourself everywhere you go. This is a club that is probably underachieving. I do not think that it is wrong to say that especially over the last couple of seasons. It is a good challenge to try and get to where we want to be.

"When you speak to the Board, you can see that coming from them as Dunfermline supporters just how much it means to them. The troubles of the last few years and the way that everyone has rallied round the club to raise money and get the club back on its feet again."

So what can the Pars fans expect to see from Allan Johnston as the manager?

"I want to be successful, you can see that just talking to the directors, the supporters, everybody at this club is desperate for success and I am no different. I will be giving everything to make sure that we get that."

As for his style, he thought that might be better gleaned from others but he replied:-

"You try to get the best out of players. some respond to criticism, some to the arm around the shoulder. You could say you need to make sure that you get the best out of people."

Everybody was keen to know whether he would be bringing in another coach but it appears that Allan Johnston has the greatest respect for John Potter:-

"Potts is a great lad and he is definitely going to be a big part. We played together at St Mirren and were together at Queen of the South as well. The players probably love him and he is a really likeable guy. The two of us got on well as players so I do not see any reason why not.

"Obviously I have not looked at everything in detail. I will need to look at the squad and talk it through with Potts. He has been here last year, he knows this division really well, he knows the players who have been released and the players who are still here. There will be a lot of communication between the two of us."

It was not the chance to work with John Potter though it was the club that attracted Allan to Dunfermline. He feels that it is a club that is in a false position.

"It is not easy to get out of this league as it proved last year again. We know that it is not going to be easy. There has definitely got to be changes. Last year wasn't acceptable, we have got to make sure that we are stronger and that we do recruit the right type of players."

Is there a certain type of player that is needed to get out of League One?

"It doesn't matter what division, I like pace and I like skill. I like movement so good players I suppose."

Since leaving Kilmarnock in February, Allan has been taking in many games across all the divisions including south of the border. He knows that the challenge is now to bring in the right kind of players. There is lot to do by his own admission so he is delighted to be appointed so early:-

"We need to make sure that we are organised because we have to make sure that we hit the ground running as soon as the season starts."

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