The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ryan’s drop down leagues pays off with Dunfermline move
Andy Ryan is convinced he can make it back to the top flight with Dunfermline after deliberately dropping down the leagues to ‘rekindle’ his career.
The 22-year-old penned a twoyear deal with the Pars on Tuesday and marked his debut just hours later with a superb double for Allan Johnston’s men in the Irn-Bru Cup win over Arbroath.
The Fifers paid a fee to recruit Ryan from Airdrie, where he scored 29 times in just 47 appearances, and the marksman believes he is ready to step back up the ranks after kicking off his career at Hamilton Accies.
He said: “The move came out of the blue but when I heard Dunfermline were interested it was a great opportunity for me at a big, big club.
“It’s a great club, with a great fan-base, and it’s just a case of feeling my way into the team.
“The manager here was a big thing for me as well. I think he can develop me as a player and take me to the next level in my career.
“I had the chance to go back to the Championship last year before I signed for Airdrie, but I thought the best move for me was to drop down a couple of leagues and go to Airdrie full-time in League One.
“I just wanted to rekindle my career, if you like, and it proved to be the right decision. I scored 27 goals, which is great for any striker. Now, I’m just trying to work my way back up.
“I think I’ve got players in midfield at Dunfermline who can create chances for me, and hopefully I can put them away.”
Ryan took just 23 minutes to find the net for the Pars in spectacular fashion on Tuesday, when he struck a sweet volley from 16 yards out.
After following that up with a header five minutes from the interval, the youngster was thrilled to make a good first impression on his maiden outing for his new club.
He added: “It was the ideal start for me. I wasn’t expecting to play from the start but I was delighted I did.
“As a centre-forward, the first goal you score is crucial because the longer that drags on the harder you tend to try.
“So, it was great to get my first goal and it was a great finish.
“I had a header at the back post for my hat-trick but I’ll take two goals for my first game.”
Meanwhile, Peter Houston has told Pars fans that he can handle any abuse they dish out as Falkirk prepare to renew hostilities with their fierce foes this weekend.
The last meeting between the sides in April erupted in controversy when Myles Hippolyte hit the deck under negligible contact to win a penalty against the Pars, helping Houston’s men claim a 2-1 win.
Dunfermline goalkeeper Sean Murdoch accused the player of “conning” the referee, Gavin Duncan, before their official Twitter feed published video of the incident, with emojis to indicate Hippolyte was a diver – prompting Houston to label their rivals “unprofessional”.
Hippolyte was later banned for simulation by the SFA and the fallout from an explosive clash, in which Dunfermline defender Lewis Martin was also dismissed, continued for several days.
Houston expects an electric atmosphere at East End Park.
“I’ll get absolute pelters. But that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I get pelters from my own fans! Why should I be bothered about it from Dunfermline fans?” he smiled.
“I think it’s something to do with the fact I don’t have any hair.
“There’s a little bit of niggle in the game because of the situation with Myles last time. It’s in the back of our mind, now. These are two different teams and a lot of different players involved.”