The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Brilliant to be back’, says keeper Scully
Stopper wants to see the good times back at East End Park
Ryan Scully is hoping to bring back the good times after leaving Morton to return to Dunfermline.
The former Partick Thistle keeper joined the Pars on loan in 2013 and ended up spending two enjoyable seasons at East End Park.
He made 87 appearances for the Fifers and won the club’s player of the year award in 2014.
The 26-year-old left Partick for Morton last summer without ever tasting the regular first team football he got with Dunfermline and his chances were also limited under Jonatan Johansson at Cappielow.
He said: “It’s brilliant to be back at Dunfermline. Just in terms of football, I want to be playing, but once I got the opportunity to come back here it was a no-brainer for me.
“That’s not to say I’m going to come straight into the team. I need to work hard and earn that position, but I feel that I had to make the move to get back playing football.
“It helps when a club knows you and you’ve got a good relationship with the fans as well. That does play a part in it.
“It’s also a massive club and so it’s a great chance to come back.
“I had two years here before and I had a great time, probably my fondest memories of playing football. They gave me my first real chance of playing firstteam football.
“I think if you ask most players you feel fondest of the club that gives you that chance of first-team football, so I think a lot of Dunfermline; it’s a great club, with great people.
“When the chance came about that I could come to Dunfermline, I jumped at it.”
Scully could now make another debut for Dunfermline this weekend away to Morton, the club he has just left.
He added: “You couldn’t write it. I was a wee bit worried that the move might be prolonged a bit longer, until after the game.
“But, to be fair, JJ was great with me and was very accommodating in getting stuff done.
“I imagine I might get a bit of stick if I play, but that’s to be expected. There’s no ill-will towards Morton, it was just purely for football reasons.”
Meanwhile, Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford has revealed the parttime status of current number one Lee Robinson convinced him to make a move for Scully.
Robinson has trained only with the Pars in the two days before games since being signed by Allan Johnston last January, but Crawford was not happy with that arrangement and wanted another goalie to work with every day.
He said: “We’re obviously delighted to bring Ryan on board. He was last here four years and he did well in his time here. He’s a good addition to the squad.
“People might raise their eyebrows at us bringing a goalkeeper in when we’re having issues in other areas of the team.
“But I’ve come into a situation where, through no fault of his, Lee Robinson is on a part-time contract, and if we’re wanting to do work earlier in the week then the goalkeeper is a big part in that.
“Hence the reason for bringing Ryan in, and it makes it more competitive as well.”