Pars’ Nisbet decision hailed by Crawford

Stevie Crawford insists Dunfermline’s decision to knock back big-money bids for star striker Kevin Nisbet is proof of the ambitions they still have.

The Pars stood firm in the face of lucrative offers from Hibernian and Dundee United last month.

It is thought they could have been up to £500,000 richer had they accepted either approach.

But Crawford is thrilled chairman Ross Mcarthur refused to be moved from his stance of refusing to sell Nisbet mid-season with a place in the promotion play-offs still a possibility.

With a game in hand and a better goal differece, the Fifers are three points adrift of fourth-placed Arbroath and just five points behind Inverness Caley Thistle in second.

Nisbet, who has scored 22 times in 30 appearances since signing from Raith

Rovers in the summer, is seen as crucial to the club’s bid to return to the Premiership.

Crawford said: “I’m delighted Kevin’s still at the club. I think it is important the chairman has spoken about the path we want to go down.

“The reason we wanted to keep him is he’s going to have a massive impact on what happens between now and the end of the season.”

Meanwhile Nisbet is in line for a return to the Dunfermline starting line-up for Saturday’s trip to face Partick Thistle after shaking off a calf strain.

Crawford added: “Kevin had pulled up feeling his calf on the Monday and we just felt it was right going down to Palmerston, with that surface.

“He’s over that now and he’s had a good couple of weeks’ training.”