Methil once more

Manager Allan Johnston discusses the pre season build up

Allan Johnston feels that it is very early to take much out of the first Dunfermline friendly of the season at Methil on Saturday, he told this website:-

"We are still looking at different formations and the last two weeks have been about making sure that they are at the right fitness levels. It is important and you want to win every game you play in whether it is a pre season game or not but there is a long way to go before the start of the season."

That long route will involve four pre season friendlies in the next eight days starting at one o'clock on Saturday against East Fife at Bayview. The manager claims that he is going to mix his squad about with the majority only playing 45 minutes.

"Everybody is going to play a part tomorrow. There are a lot of games coming up and everybody will get plenty of game time to be able to prove that they should be starting. There will be a few trialists and the new signings playing tomorrow."

Allan Johnston confirmed that he is still looking to increase his playing squad, just as well since he has no recognised number one goalkeeper yet!

"On Monday it will be a younger team that we will send to Berwick. We have a game on Wednesday as well (closed doors v Partick Thistle) so we don't want to overwork them. Usually at this time in the season the boys have been doing a lot of hard work and it is a lot to ask to play that many games in such a short period of time.

"The main thing is that they are ready for the start of the season when it comes."

It will be a busy weekend for Johnston and his squad since after Saturday, the DAFC Open Day follows on Sunday in the Glen Pavilion.

"It is a good occasion to meet the fans, it will be my first time to meet everybody. What I have noticed so far is that everybody is desperate for the club to be successful. Since I have joined there seems to be a good feel about the club so we are all looking forward to getting started and having a successful season."

Admitting it was unlikely that any new signings could materialise before the Open Day, Johnston said that within the next couple of weeks he would be looking to sign a couple more players. A goalkeeper certainly has to be one, he continued:-

"We have a few options and we are speaking to a few just now. We just need to wait and see how that progresses."