The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Shock as Allan tops list of six to depart the Pars
Paul Allan and Alex Jakubiak are in a group of six players released by Dunfermline. The duo are joined by goalkeeper Max Little and defender Miller Fenton, as well as youngsters Jake Rennie and Michael Beagley.
All were out of contract at the end of this season.
The biggest surprise, perhaps, is Allan.
Jakubiak’s performance in the 3-1 victory over Dundee United in March showed just what the former Dundee striker can do on his day.
But, unfortunately, the one-time Watford trainee failed to reach those heights enough with the Pars and a fresh start could suit both parties.
However, Allan was a consistent performer at the heart of the team, particularly in the final few months of the campaign.
As a homegrown talent, as well as a Dunfermline supporter, the 24-year-old appears to be exactly the kind of player the club has talked of building their squad around.
But Allan’s departure was a financial decision rather than a playing one, with manager James McPake and assistant Dave Mackay keen to retain him.
The playmaker is now expected to attract interest from Championship clubs as a free agent.
In addition, all seven loanees have returned to their parent clubs – but one will be back with the Pars.
Celtic youngster Ben Summers and Owen Moffat from Blackpool had both spent the season at East End Park.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott joined in January from Cardiff City and Brad Holmes followed Blackpool team-mate Moffat north.
Xavier Benjamin was also recruited from Cardiff before the transfer window closed.
Chris Kane then made the temporary move from St Johnstone in February before Livingston defender Miles Welch-Hayes completed the Fifers’ recruitment for the season.
Kane is to be announced as Dunfermline’s first signing of the summer on a permanent deal within the next 24 hours.
Dave Mackay admits freeing Paul Allan could “come back to bite” Dunfermline. Allan heads a list of six players who have been released by the Pars at the end of their contracts.
Mackay has revealed he and manager James McPake were keen to hang on to the midfielder but budget constraints sealed his departure.
The 24-year-old is joined by striker Alex Jakubiak, goalkeeper Max Little, defender Miller Fenton and youngsters Jake Rennie and Michael Beagley in departing.
Little and Fenton were bit-part players and Jakubiak failed to regularly reach the heights he is capable of during a frustrating season at East End Park.
However, Allan was a consistent performer for the Fifers and stood out when given a run in the starting line-up towards the end of the campaign.
As a boyhood Dunfermline supporter and homegrown talent, it will come as a surprise to many that the playmaker has been freed.
“A really tough one is Paul Allan,” said assistant manager Mackay.
“Paul has done great. This season he has come in (after last term’s injuries) and played an awful lot of football.
“The unfortunate thing for Paul was, when we spoke to him, we would have been desperate to keep Paul, we would have loved to have kept him.
“He has great attitude, I think he has so much potential to improve as a player. But it came down to budgets.
“He has been really unfortunate that he is one of the few who was coming out of contract and the rest are still under contract. We just didn’t have any budget to keep him.
“Myself and the manager think really highly of Paul. He is going to have a lot of options.
“And he might be one to come back to bite the club – if Paul goes to a club at a higher level or he goes to a competitor in our division who finished above us this season.
“I know there are a few clubs interested in him.
“It is very unfortunate that he is not being kept on. Again, that’s not through choice of myself and the manager.
“At times, it is really, really tough. But we have to work within a certain budget and unfortunately we couldn’t squeeze Paul into that.”
Jakubiak played under McPake and Mackay at Dundee and took time to explore his options following his departure from Dens Park 12 months ago.
After eventually agreeing a one-year deal with Dunfermline, he had to get his fitness up to speed.
He went on to score two goals – both against Ayr United – in 28 appearances for the Pars.
“Alex Jakubiak is away and, again, is a little bit unfortunate,” said Mackay.
“We know how good Jak can be. That was why we were desperate to bring him here from Dundee, and why we were desperate to take him to Dundee as well.
“Jak will get a club, no problem. He is a top player and I hope that he goes and fulfils the potential that he has got, because he has all the attributes to be a top player.
“Unfortunately, budget constraints mean that you can’t retain everybody. You have to move players on and unfortunately Jak was a victim of that.”
Meanwhile, Dunfermline will offer Fenton training facilities this summer as he recovers from injury.
Budget constraints mean that you can’t retain everybody