(Photo by Callum Landells/Getty Images)
Dunfermline manager Peter Grant insists the Pars can still make it into the playoffs this season despite their woeful start to the campaign – with the former Celtic star admitting that the fact Championship is so close has done his side a massive favour.
The East End Park side are bottom of the table with only four points from their opening eight fixtures, losing to a late goal at Queen of the South last weekend, as they prepare to welcome Kilmarnock to Fife on Saturday.
Grant wants his players to turn things around quickly (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
When asked if the Pars still had a shot at making the top four this season, Grant was bullish and confessed he expected to be challenging to win the division – but warned his players that they need to start winning games “very. very quickly.”
“Absolutely, 100 per cent,” Grant said. “If I didn’t think that I would not have come here in the first place. I expected to be much higher, I expected to be challenging as champions, that’s what I want to do. The way the league has been with teams beating each other, it has kept us well within it.
“There is absolutely no doubt we can do that and I know the players are capable of that but we have to get a performance and have to get a result and you’re hoping to get it sooner rather than later. I know from my own personal point of view I have to start winning games very, very quickly.”
After his side’s defeat in Dumfries, some Dunfermline fans made their feelings know, prompting the Pars’ board to release a statement giving their backing to Grant but the former Alloa boss understands where fans are coming from.
Despite some of the stick aimed at him, Grant confessed that he deserves the criticism that has come his way so far as he reiterated his pride at being in charge of the Fifers – but also felt it was imperative to get in touch with the board after their public support of him.
“I thought it was really important to get in contact with them. For me, I’m very proud to be the manager of this football club and I want that to continue but I understand you have to win games of football to make that continue.
“I understand the disappointment of supporters, I’m never a manager that is going to come out and try and curry favour with the fans and say this and that, I’m very honest and I deserve the criticism that comes with the results, I’ve no problem with that. I don’t like that, I wish it wasn’t happening, 100 per cent.”
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