Managers Post Raith Rovers

20/08/21: link to audio of both managers’ post match interviews

Talking after the abandonment of the match against Raith Rovers Peter Grant related his experiences abandoned matches:-

“I can only remember one other occasion like this, many years ago at Celtic Park against Aberdeen game when the fog came in. Big Brian Irvine smashed my knee and I ended up out for four or five months, that was a big disappointment because about five minutes after I went off, the game was called off.

“That was only about 15 minutes in and this was even less, so it brought back bad memories, that’s for sure.

“We’re disappointed for everybody who came, it was a fantastic atmosphere - a perfect night for a game of football. The Dunfermline support behind the goal was magnificent and as a team I thought we’d started quite pretty well.

“People are just getting back into games and this was a perfect chance to entertain them, so it’s a big blow.

“When we were in the changing room before the game we knew the lights had gone out, once that happens there was a concern about that but then we got back out we thought game on, perfect.

“We never even heard anything but we saw the safety office talking to the fourth official, then when the referee came over to us to explain the situation. People’s safety is always the most important – we’ve seen tragedies before (at football grounds) and we don’t want anything like that to happen.”

You worked so hard preparing for this game and then for that to happen it is so disappointing?

“Everybody was looking forward to it, Raith are a really good side but we are a really good side when we play, we have just not shown that in the last few weeks. We have got good players and it was the perfect game for us really in that respect because of the big excitement with the supporters - a Fife derby – my first one – and I’m obviously excited about that and trying to get a victory. I am just disappointed that the Pars fans have to go home tonight without seeing that victory.”

Does it increase the hunger to get back to winning ways in front of your home fans against Arbroath on Saturday?

“Absolutely that is football. There is only so much you can prepare for on football. Every day throws up something new, different problems.

“Young Aaron Comrie, who pulled out after fantastic news of having a child today he misses the game today and all of a sudden you are saying to yourself it changes, you don’t know what is going to happen in football.

“As a manager you are always preparing but as I’ve said many many times, you can prepare as much as you want when you cross that white line that is when you have to produce. As I say I thought that we started the game quite well.”

There were thoughts that Aaron Comrie might have been injured but that is better news? At least you’ll have him back next week.

“Yes it is fantastic and everybody at the club is delighted for him and we wish them health and happiness.

“All we want is everybody fit and slowly but surely we are getting boys back fit now. We are looking forward to that challenge but as I say to our boys the biggest challenge should be on that training pitch, trying to get in the team and stay in the team with performances. Hopefully we can maintain that.

“As I have said on the training pitch they have been excellent, even through the couple of games where we did not play particularly well, all I ask of them is take those performances on to the pitch. I know that they are more than capable of doing that.”

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