BY IAIN COLLIN – Capital City Press
New manager Allan Johnston believes a united Dunfermline – on and off the pitch – could drive the club to success this season.
The Pars are preparing to kick off a third straight campaign in League One and have confessed there could be serious financial implications if they fail to win promotion next May.
Johnston inherited a squad that finished seventh last term but has added players with experience further up the leagues in Scottish football – the likes of Joe Cardle, Sean Murdoch, Michael Paton, Jordan Talbot and Callum Fordyce.
And, after issuing an open letter to supporters yesterday in which he set out his goals for the season, the former Kilmarnock boss reckons his revamped squad are already responding to the backing they are receiving from the Fifers’ faithful, who have snapped up more than 2,000 season tickets.
He said: “It’s always good to show the fans our intentions and where we want to be, so that everybody is focusing on going in the one direction.
“You can see the way the fans are getting behind the players. Even at half-time last week with the score 0-0 they clapped the players off, which is incredible.
“The players reacted to that and it does make a difference when the fans get behind the players.
“We all want the same thing, we all want a successful Dunfermline, so if we are all going in the one direction then that’s all you can ask.”
The Pars have opened the campaign with a 4-1 win over Arbroath in the Petrofac Training Cup and a 5-1 hammering of Cowdenbeath in the League Cup and Johnston is eager for another victory away to Brechin City in the league tomorrow.
He added: “It’s important to build momentum. Since I’ve come in I’ve said it was important we started the season well.
“We want to do well in the cup competitions as well, because winning breeds confidence and scoring goals helps your confidence.
“We’ve just got to be careful we don’t get complacent as well, that we keep working the way we’ve been and keep the standards up.”
@IainCollin
