Pars look ahead to fresh start

It has been a truely wretched season for Dunfermline Athletic, and one which the Pars faithful are glad has only four matches to run before its conclusion. A season which began with so much optimism and hope way back in August descended into one of depression, confusion and apathy. Yep, its fun to follow Fife’s finest.

Having been relegated at the end of last season and losing the Scottish Cup final in heartbreaking fashion while playing some good football, the feeling was that the Athletic would mount a serious challenge for an instant return to the Premier League with the hope that the experienced players we had, such as Stevie Crawford, Darren Young, Greg Shields, Scott Wilson and Stephen Glass, would enable us to fight our out of what could be described as the country’s toughest division. On top of that, the carrot of UEFA Cup football dangled in front of the team so the opportunity for a memorable season was there to be grasped.

But by the end of August, we were out of Europe by BK Hacken and October saw us already way off the pace of leaders Hamilton Accies. Consecutive humilations in losing 0-5 at home to Hamilton, 0-3 at Stirling Albion and 0-4 to Livingston saw us embroiled in a relegation fight. By December, manager Stephen Kenny was gone, replaced by veteran striker Jim McIntyre.

Results have improved and Dunfermline now sit in mid-table mediocrity, with only 4th place and the avoidance of an extra round in next season’s Scottish Cup left to play for. Its as low as we’ve been since I started watching the team back in 1994 but the focus is on a title challenge next term. McIntyre has signed winger Alex Burke, with the jury still out on him, as well as Stirling Albion’s young midfielder Steven Bell on a pre-contract agreement. Bell has impressed against the Pars this term, and netted a good goal in the Beanos 3-2 defeat to Dunfermline at Forthbank last week.

But one of the biggest cheers of the season could be heard this week when it was announced popular goalkeeper Paul Gallacher had signed a three year contract to remain with the club. Gallacher, or Peter Barlow as he is affectionately known by the fans due to looking very much like the ex Coronation Street character, has impressed since signing for Stephen Kenny in August after falling out of favour at Norwich City.

Much like Dorus de Vries last year, Gallo has saved Dunfermline a lot of points this season, including two crucial penalty saves in a draw at Dundee and in the 3rd minute of stoppage time in a 1-0 win at Queen of the South in October. Capped 7 times for Scotland, Gallacher’s form and general ability caused me to question Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall on Tuesday night. I went along to their game with Dundee at Firhill with the Radio Scotland team (my Beeb match report will appear at some stage on here) and in his programme notes, he described his goalkeeper Jonathon Tuffey as the league’s best.

Undoutedly, he is a fine keeper but, come on Ian, Gallacher has won praise from managers and fans of our first division rivals all season. He is a goalkeeper with international experience and should be playing at a higher level than the Irn-Bru SFL. But it is great to know we have a top quality keeper on board for next season, and shows the club look like they mean business in putting this term’s wrongs right.

We will have to wait until the summer to see how McIntyre rebuilds the squad, and it can’t come quick enough. Roll on season 2008/2009 and hopefully a fresh, exciting new start for Fife’s biggest club.