Recruitment for next season on horizon as Mcpake plots course

James Mcpake expects Dunfermline’s plans for next season to start gathering pace as the current campaign reaches its climax.

And he admits the Pars are aiming to learn the lessons of being “caught cold” by the nightmare injury troubles that hampered their chances of success this term.

Hopes had been increased the Fifers could earn themselves a shot at promotion with an impressive recent run of results.

But Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away to Airdrie effectively killed off their chances of finishing fourth and clinching a play-off place.

The club’s primary objective has almost been achieved, however, with the East End Park men sitting in fifth, six points clear of second-bottom spot with just three games remaining.

Currently fifth, with a four-point gap to Inverness in eighth and just nine points to play for, they are nearly safe.

That will allow Mcpake and club to ramp up planning for next term, with the likes of Alex Jakubiak, Paul Allan, Max Little and Miller Fenton all out of contract.

The Pars also currently have Malachi Faganwalcott, Xavier Benjamin, Miles Welch-hayes, Ben Summers, Owen Moffat, Chris Kane and Brad Holmes on loan.

Sporting director Thomas Meggle was over in Scotland from Germany last week and held discussions with Mcpake.

“Thomas was over last week and, again, this is where I feel that it’s different from the way we do it,” the manager said.

“The recruitment is non-stop.

“There’s always what if this player leaves? If somebody comes and takes a player, have we got a succession plan for the next season?”

With Dunfermline sitting on 42 points, he added: “The target was to get to 40 points.

“I know 40 points isn’t going to be enough this year (to avoid ninth place), where normally it would have been.

“Things will become a bit clearer over the next week or two I’m sure.”

A strong finish to the campaign could also help after his team’s on-field struggles swayed Dundee’s Lee Ashcroft against making a return to the Pars on loan.

With the defender instead choosing titlechasing rivals Raith Rovers, he explained: “Lee Ashcroft, for example, he picked solely on league position, which is up to him.”

He added: “Would I have done the same thing? I’m not sure. I’d need to be in that situation.

“You’re trying to speak to players and saying: ‘Right, come on, come here next year, it’s good here, the boys are great.’ Yeah, but you’re ninth in the table.

“It’s better when you’re sitting fourth or fifth.”

James Mcpake already has transfer targets.