Player seeking fresh challenge at Dunfermline

In the absence of Manager Allan Johnston who is on holiday it was John Potter who spoke about Jason Talbot, the first player to sign for Dunfermline this closed season.

"Towards the end of last season Neil and I were watching a lot of games. Jason was somebody we knew anyway and we watched Livingston three or four times. We liked what we saw about him and did our homework on him.

"Speaking to other managers, coaches and players in that league everything was very positive about him. When Allan came in I mentioned this to him. He and Sandy Clark were interested in him and Allan met him last week and managed to get a deal done. Jason was keen to come to Dunfermline, he always was and we are delighted to get him signed up."

Although the 29 year old from Irlam near Manchester can probably play in other positions he has been signed to play left back. Potts continued:-

"He is tough, strong and experienced. For his size he is very good in the air and is the natural defender that we have been missing last year. He is very good in one on ones and has a toughness and aggressiveness to his game. He is the right type to bring in."

By type John Potter expanded what this could mean:-

"He will help the young players here, we all knew that was needed. He has been around the leagues, moved up and down them with Livingston. Off the field he has probably had a tough time but he wanted to come here. He was always keen on the move and coming to improve himself.

"We are hoping that first and foremost he does his own job, and does that well but then maybe adding a bit to the players round about him. As a defensive player he is quite strong and will hopefully help so, that as a unit, we will concede less goals than we did last year."

Dunfermline's reputation clearly attracted the Livingston club captain to drop down a division in crossing the Forth. Potter described what could be termed a coup in the signing:-

"He kept Livingston up when it was looking dodgy for them last year and they won the Petrofac Cup. We knew Livingston wanted him back but when we set out to sell the club to him he saw the potential and the size of the club. He wanted a fresh challenge and he saw that at Dunfermline.

"We are still a big club and if we can get the right players in, I have no doubt that we can go and do well and try and win this league. That is everybody's aim."

So the rebuilding process has started and when asked if there was anything else in the offing, Potts could only add:-

"We are still speaking to players and there are offers out. Myself, Allan and Sandy met last week and planned out what we are trying to do. It is more important to get the right ones rather than numbers. We are speaking to people at the moment and hopefully can get something done in the near future."

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