Changes already afoot at East End

Saturday’s penultimate game of the season saw Dunfermline go down to a 3-0 loss at Greenock Morton, in a performance where the desire and effort of the team left a lot to be desired. With little to play for except pride, a lacklusture Dunfermline may have been expected not to play at maximum potential, but it is unacceptable, especially to the hardy band of diehards who followed them west. Morton needed the points in their bid to avoid a relegation play-off and were undoubtedly more up for it, but the way in which the Pars collapsed after going a goal down epitomised the season- one in which we’ve been pretty damn gutless and, quite simply, inept.

A rather damning verdict perhaps, but one which most Athletic followers would agree with. Changes are badly needed as the current squad simply will not take the First Division by storm and win promotion like Billy Reid’s excellent young Hamilton Accies side have done this year.

And to start what will no doubt be an exodus out of the East End Park exit door, on Friday it was confirmed that Mark Burchill and Stephen Simmons will leave after rejecting new deals. Scott Thomson has taken a cut in wages to re-sign for another year, a decision I am happy with as he has been excellent since returning from injury and has helped shore up our shambolic defence.

But back to Burchill and Simmons. Striker Burchill is our top goalscorer with 13 goals, and in his first season with the club netted a significant number which helped ensure we beat the SPL drop and reached the CIS Insurance Cup final. Often he has been posted missing in action though and is a player we need focused and on the pitch- he’s no use in the stand injured, which has happened throughout his time with the club. A loss he will be, but not irreplaceable.

But my biggest cheer regarding football this weekend was the news that Simmons will be leaving. Since joining the club, he has simply failed to deliver. Too often he is found missing in games as he is simply far too lazy. He does have some ability, but he isn’t as good as he thinks he is and has simply decided not to turn up this season, in a campaign where we needed all of our squad pulling in the same direction.

A clear-out simply has to happen at East End, and we need to look at this season’s deserving champions as an example. Accies have a lot of youth in their squad aided with some experienced pros, and they have played skillful, quick and entertaining football throughout.

Pars boss Jim McIntyre has to go down that road if we are to be looking at making a title challenge for next season, otherwise it’ll be a long, hard struggle.

We await the summer with baited breath and see what changes McIntyre makes to a horrendously underachieving football club.