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DECLAN McMANUS is desperate to turn the Dunfermline supporters’ jeers to cheers after joining the club on a one-year deal.
The 22-year-old made his debut for Aberdeen at East End Park in 2012 and recalls being subjected to plenty of booing in subsequent visits with Morton and then last season with Fife rivals Raith Rovers.
However, the former Scotland under-21 internationalist, who was released by Fleetwood Town at the end of the campaign, is determined to be on the right side of a successful Pars team next term.
He said: “I’ve always enjoyed playing against Dunfermline teams, especially with the atmosphere here.
“I made my debut here for Aberdeen and it’s always a place I’ve really enjoyed coming to because of that.
“I’m delighted to get it all done and I’m looking forward to the season.
“I’ve had my fair share of stick here. I think it was deserved when I was at Morton, I scored a fair few against them.
“And then being at the rivals last year didn’t help!
“But I’m looking forward to it. It’s a massive club in this league, so I think we should be aspiring to do as well as possible and we have the players that can certainly do that.
“I want to get the goals and get the team as far up the league and challenging as high as possible.”
NO-BRAINER
McManus suffered the bitter disappointment of relegation with Raith last month after a tortuous campaign on loan from Fleetwood.
His move to the English League One side in 2015 failed to work out but he is hopeful of sparking his career to life with Dunfermline.
He added: “I spoke to the manager at the end of last week and as soon as he showed his enthusiasm to get me in it was a no-brainer for me.
“It’s a big, big club, especially in this league, and every time I’ve played against them they’ve had good teams and played good football.
“Hopefully that will suit me. There’s a dressing room full of really good players and that also helps.
“It’s up to us as players to make sure that towards the end of the season we’re up there challenging.”
