Pars chief opens door for coaching applications

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston today invited potential player-coaches of “reasonable stature” to come forward if they want to assist new manager Jim Leishman next season.

The 51-year-old has been appointed indefinitely, accepted the position for the secnd time in his career, having virtually secured their Bank of Scotland Premier League survival with one game remaining.

But Yorkston will now compile a list of candidates to work under Leishman with a view to replacing him whenever he opts to revert back to his role as director of football.

He is looking for somebody like Celtic veteran Paul Lambert to learn the trade before taking over themselves.

“There is nobody in mind at the moment,” Yorkston said.

“I spoke to Jim last night and we are looking for somebody of reasonable stature to come in as a player-coach for a year or two with a view to taking over from Jim eventually.

“That’s the ideal solution. I have not spoken to Paul (Lambert) but we are looking for somebody of that ilk.

“If somebody came in for a year or so then we would try to ease him in and show him the ropes.”

Leishman was handed the reins having performed a “minor miracle” following the sacking of manager Davie Hay.

He has brought them back from the brink of relegation with victories against Dundee and Dundee United and Yorkston puts the new feeling at East End Park down to one man.

“He has performed a minor miracle,” he continued. “It’s mathematically still possible that we can go down but we are hoping that everything will go our way.

“Everything has turned round with him – not just the playing side but the buzz off the park as well.

“That emphasises the change throughout the club and not just at the park on match day.

“There’s folk going round with big smiles on their their faces and it’s a totally different atmosphere.”

But Leishman insists that the players deserve the credit for staying clear of relegation to the First Division.

He said: “The players have been magnificent since I came in and are the reason we are where we are.

“Everybody has pulled together and that’s made the difference.

“It looks as if we might stay up but that will be down to the players rather than anything I have done.”

Leishman took over on May 3, a day after the departure of Hay, and his impact has been impressive.

He has told the board he will take on the role on a permanent basis but did not want a contract, so he can stand down and continue as director of football at any time.

Leishman, who writes poetry, is back at the helm of the club he loves, 15 years after he made way for Iain Munro.

Leishman will keep coaches Craig Robertson and Hamish French on as his back-room team.

But Yorkston has outlined plans to bring in a player-coach to work under the former Livingston boss, who would groom him to take over from him when he decides to step back.

The East End Park chief continued: “We had a board meeting last night and we are delighted that Jim has accepted.

“I value Jim very highly in the current job and felt he was the right man for the job.

“Some managers come and go but we have not given him any special length of contract because he’ll know when the right time is to stop and will therefore revert back to his old position as director of football. He deserves this.

“Hamish French and Craig Robertson will assist him and they are also highly thought of in the reserve team area.

“So we need to put somebody in between them to help with the first team so we are possibly looking for a player-coach with the potential of taking over from Jim in the future.”

The popular Leishman was also happy to accepted the position on his terms having stabilised the Fife club again.

He said: “I am delighted to accept the position with these terms.

“There’s no contract as I didn’t want one and I hope we can continue the good work now with no pressure.

“I have stabilised the ship and we are going forward again. We have one game to negotiate now and if we can do that then summer is going to be a very exciting one for everyone.

“It’s been an unbelievable two results and now I am just looking forward to next season with plenty of enthusiasm.”

But Leishman is in charge of his own destiny and added: “I might be here six weeks, six months or six years.”