Football Season Guide

Dunfermline Athletic

In


Aaron Comrie (def) St Johnstone; Thomas Bragg (def) Southampton; Gabriel McGill (att) Middlesbrough; Paul Paton (mid) Falkirk; Euan Murray (def) Raith Rovers; Kevin Nisbet (att) Raith Rovers; Kyle Turner (mid) Stranraer; Ryan Dow (att) Peterhead; Tom Lang (def) Clyde; Lucas Berry (att) Fife Elite; Ben Swinton (gk) AM Soccer Club; Matthew Bowman (def); Josh Coley (mid) Norwich City - loan; Josh Edwards (def) Airdrieonians; Matthew Bowman (def).

Out


Kallum Higginbotham (r) (att) Real Kashmir; Jackson Longridge (r) (def) Bradford City; Robbie Muirhead (sp) (att) Greenock Morton; Ryan Williamson (r) (def) Partick Thistle; Mark Durnan (def) Falkirk; Aidan Connolly (r) (mid) Falkirk; Myles Hippolyte (att); James Craigen (mid); Lee Robinson (gk); Sean Murdoch (gk); Louis Longridge (att); Brandon Luke (mid); James Vincent (r) (mid) Dundee – end of loan; Faissal El Bakhtaoui (att) Dundee – end of loan; Ryan Blair (mid) Swansea City – end of loan; Bruce Anderson (att) Aberdeen – end of loan.

Dunfermline had a strong start to last season, but title hopes were dashed by the turn of the year. Allan Johnston was fired and fans-favourite Steven Crawford was handed the task of taking them to the play-offs. He failed too during an ugly end to the season with just one point from eight matches. Crawford has used his contacts from around the UK to assemble a host of new signings. However, few of them are household names in Scotland apart from Paul Paton. Around 15 players with a wealth of experience have departed as the Pars begin a new era with Crawford’s choice of players. Although the Pars will always be well supported, it’s difficult to view them as promotion candidates. They lacked goals last season and are hoping Kevin Nisbet can rectify that failing with support from other new signings Ryan Dow and Gabriel McGill. At least Dunfermline should have a solid defence with Lee Ashcroft and Danny Devine remaining at East End Park. They also have good competition for the defensive roles. With a new set of players having little time to gel, it seems the Pars could be in for a tough start. A lot rests on Kevin Nisbet reproducing his scoring form for Raith Rovers at a higher level. Despite the poor end to last season Crawford remains in place, but the pressure is on him from the start.

Target


Mid-table consolidation. It could easily go wrong for Dunfermline this season and avoiding a relegation scare would be a bonus.