The Fife Life of Reilly

On loan Jambo happy to have arrived at East End Park

Striker Gavin Reilly has been loaned out from Hearts to Dunfermline in a season long loan. Being denied a season in the Premiership Gavin described as a `massive disappointment` but the new boy at East End Park is now very happy to be there. He told the media:-

"It has come along quick and I am looking forward to the season ahead. Robbie Neilson spoke to me after the last game of the season with Hearts and said that he wanted to loan me out to get more games in. Dunfermline and Allan (Johnston) had been in touch before the end of the season and he thought that this was the best thing for me. I went away and spoke to my agent and my family and in the end I thought that this was the best place for me to come. I have worked with Allan before, I am a big admirer of the work he did."

The reunion means Gavin comes just 18 miles from Tynecastle to East End Park so consequently he can remain living in his Edinburgh flat. Although he felt that he had done well at Hearts he admits that he just has to accept the loan and resolve to prove a point to Robbie Neilson. Neilson`s assistant at Hearts of course is former Pars striker Stevie Crawford and they talked over the possibility of the move.

"When he knew of the move was likely he spoke to me and gave me the low down on the club and I was massively impressed and it is a big club. It has a great fan base and a great place to be. He said that `if you get going they will be right behind you`. He was a good help and he did fantastic here over a number of years. When guys like that telling you that it is a good place to come then it is definitely that."

Other options were possible but re-uniting with Allan Johnston was a consideration:-

"I was at Queen of the South for five years and it is that much easier knowing that you are in the same place. When I came into Hearts it was a bit hard to adapt to moving away from home. For a one year loan I didn`t want to go through that again. If you are already comfortable in an area you have worked in before that makes it a lot easier."

Dunfermline have ambitions targeting the play off spot in their first season back in the second tier of Scottish football. Gavin acknowledges that it will be a very competitive league but that is nothing new of late. The 23 year old is keen to play in the big games and push for promotion while at Dunfermline. Pars fans can expect honest hard work from Gavin Reilly:-

"I have a good record of goals in the Championship, hopefully I can follow that on. I am energetic and never give defenders a minutes rest and I hope to keep that going this season."

Gavin has only played once against Dunfermline in the past. He was a substitute six minutes from the end of the Alba Challenge Cup tie on a wet Saturday in August 2010. He recalls missing what was the 13th penalty in the shoot out with the scores tied at 5-5. Pats keeper Chris Smith turned a 17 year old Reilly`s spot kick on to the post as Allan Johnston watched as an unused sub. Now Queens players Chris Higgins and Andy Dowie both missed and the Dumfries team went through with Ryan McGuffie`s conversion.

Gavin was not to play against Dunfermline again as the Fifers were promoted and then QOS were relegated and Dunfermline relegated as QOS were promoted. He has not really experienced what it is like to play in front of Pars fans but he is enthused by news of strong season ticket sales and looks good to good backing this season. Will he be taking penalties?

"Personally I thought that I hit it well but it didn`t go it. I would be happy to take them this year!"

That of course could boost his goals tally which is just what he is very conscious of what he needs to do while on loan at Dunfermline.

"I am still a signed Hearts player and I will report there at the start of next season. This season it is all about me getting back to hopefully where I was, playing more games and scoring more goals.

"I need to have a good season here first and see what happens but I am looking forward to it."

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