New Goalie Coach

"I cannot wait to get going at Dunfermline. I came in on Monday, had a session on Thursday and then I'm back on Saturday. It is great that the first game is at East End."

Brian Potter has been appointed goalkeeping coach at Dunfermline, replacing Jim Preston who joined at the start of the season. Manager Jim McIntyre said that he was delighted to bring in Brian from Hamilton Academicals.

"Jim Preston and I decided that things weren't working out and we had a parting of the ways. We wish him well. Brian will work in the exact same role - two days a week and on a Saturday. He has fitted in excellently, he has a good bit of banter about him, he is young and has fitted in with the boys. He is keen to do well."

The Valleyfield boy got a call from the Manager saying that the Club was looking for a goalie coach and there was no holding back the 34 year old coach who is a lifelong Pars supporter. Brian left Hamilton after their Alba Cup Semi Final last Sunday. He was a Raith Rovers player as a youngster, being there for three seasons after leaving school. Speaking exclusively with the club website he explained his career so far:-

"I injured my shoulder in the last year at the Rovers and virtually missed the whole season. I ended up playing for Oakley Juniors for about ten years before I had a season coaching at East Fife as I was going through my licence. I have had the last four and a half years at Hamilton."

The move to Dunfermline is particularly pleasing after failing to get the chance after training with Ian Westwater while Bert Paton was the manager.

"I cannot wait to get going at Dunfermline. I came in on Monday, had a session on Thursday and then I'm back on Saturday. It is great that the first game is at East End."

The new coach knows the Pars keepers fairly well having seen Paul Gallacher play against him while at St Mirren.

"Chris Smith is still a relatively young guy for a goalie but he has a lot of experience. Gall has come in and started as first choice. Their attitude to training and preparation has been impressive. I can only help them to prepare physically and mentally for a game on a Saturday, that's my job.

"I will look at the younger keepers as well. Once I have had a chat with Hamish French and we will try and accommodate them in training even if it is just for an hour and a half. He will give me them for as long as I need them."

Brian made one appearance for Raith Rovers coming on for Scott Y Thomson in the League Cup Semi Final against Hearts in 1994. He saved Alan Lawrence's penalty in the shoot out that saw the Rovers through to the final. He later made one appearance for Hamilton against Dundee in April 2008. A shoulder injury put paid to Brian's playing career at the age of 27 but never really played at the top level so he is delighted to be in the SPL with Dunfermline. He is the middle of three brothers and of course his younger brother John is already well known to Dunfermline supporters.

Will this be a Potter takeover? The Manager had the final word:-

"To be honest a couple of the boys were getting confused when they heard his voice on the training ground, they didn't know what Potter it was!"