Grant admits he is at mercy of board

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eter Grant insists he will have no complaints if the Dunfermline board call time on his stint as manager in the coming days.

However, the embattled gaffer has reiterated that he will not quit.

The Pars sit two points adrift of Morton at the foot of the Championship following Saturday’s dire 1-0 defeat against Queen of the South.

The Fifers have not won a league game all season and no team in the SPFL have scored fewer goals than their tally of four.

Seething supporters called for Grant’s resignation following the reverse in Dumfries and, with a two-week international break now upon us, it’s decision time for chairman Ross McArthur and the club’s new German owners.

Ask whether he felt he had the confidence of the board, Grant said: “You’re asking the wrong person.

“Put it this way, I can tell you: I won’t be quitting. I know what my job is and I know what’s expected of me.

“That’s somebody else’s decision and, if that (dismissal) happens then I’ve had nothing but support from Thomas (Meggle, sporting director/ part-owner) and Ross (McArthur) chairman.

“I would understand 100% if I’m not the manager. No problem. I know the consequences of not winning football matches and the run we are on. But I can say that I’ve given everything to do this right.”

A furious section of Dunfermline supporters had to be held back by stewards as Grant made his way up a makeshift tunnel at full-time.

He continued: “I’d expect that if you don’t win games of football. I’ve said that from day one.”

Reflecting on a fairly insipid contest which appeared destined to end in stalemate until Lee Connelly’s late winner, Grant added: “The first half, in particular, was as poor a game as I’ve ever been involved with.

“I wouldn’t like to have paid money to watch it so I know how the supporters must have felt watching it.

“It was a poor game and a poor day all round. It was very difficult to watch a team representing me and the club, playing the way did.”

With two Pars supporters dressed as Batman and Robin in attendance, Dunfermline were in need of a hero at Palmerston.

Kai Kennedy sought to oblige but saw a speculative drive from distance deflect narrowly wide of Soloman Brynn’s post.

Dunfermline keeper Owain Fon Williams – sensational in Wednesday night’s 1-1 derby draw against Raith Rovers – then fielded a stinging drive from Connelly.

Those half-chances were the sum-total of a dire first period in the Dumfries drizzle. Both sides appeared short on ideas and bereft of confidence.

The second period kicked off with Pars left-back Josh Edwards lashing a shot over the bar from all of 35 yards. Alex Cooper then forced a sharp low save from Fon Williams after some fancy footwork in the box.

Kevin O’Hara passed up a superb opportunity to break the deadlock when he nodded an inch-perfect Dan Pybus delivery wide.

Kennedy almost unlocked the Queens defence with 20 minutes left on the clock. The on-loan Rangers man brilliantly wriggled away from three challenges but saw his fizzing low drive zip wide.

And it was Queens who bagged a crucial winner when a scramble in the penalty area saw the ball fall kindly for Connolly – and his finish with the outside of his boot was clinical.

As Grant walked down the makeshift tunnel in the stand housing the away fans, he was subjected to a furious reaction.

RESILIENT: Peter Grant insists he will not resign from his position as Dunfermline boss despite their dreadful run.