Halloween Horrors

Its been quite a spooky season so far for Dunfermline Athletic. One that promised so much has fallen flat on its face, with the fans being well and truely haunted by the ghosts of the Irn Bru Scottish First Division. That said, you could argue it is the Pars players who are the ghosts, so easy they have been to beat so far this season.

As it stands, Stephen Kenny's pre-season promotion favourites occupy the dizzy heights of 6th in the league. They have acquired a measly 12 points from 11 games and, worryingly, they are only 2 points better off than bottom dogs Queen of the South. Even worse, they are 16 points adrift of Billy Reid's impressive Hamilton Accies, who it seems can only throw the title away.

So what on earth is going on at East End Park? As the nights draw in, it looks to be a long hard winter ahead. Out of the UEFA Cup to BK Hacken at the first attempt, rumours of the manager departing on the day of the second leg of that tie and humiliating defeats have left the fans feeling like complete turnips as the club stagger from one shambles to the next.

The warning signs were there early doors. Despite warnings, some Athletic supporters thought that we'd walk the First Division, courtesy of keeping hold of a few of our unsuccessful SPL squad. But, alas, we have done absolutely nothing of the sort.

An opening day defeat to Hamilton at New Douglas Park was seen as a mere blip, especially as Accies only lost once at home during the previous season. But a 1-0 home defeat by Morton set alarm bells ringing, before the dismal UEFA Cup exit to the Swedes, who the Pars should have taken the game to and beat well in the first leg at home.

Indifferent league form continued but things came to a head when we entertained Accies. Billed as a game we couldn't afford to lose, we fell 13 points behind after a humiliating 5-0 defeat, easily one of our worst ever at home in the First Division. The players attitude was questioned, the manager's future debated- many pondered, how could we lose 5-0 at home to Hamilton Accies?

And then at the weekend, the failing act chuntered its way to Stirling Albion, a part-time side yet to win a league game. Despite a decent start, Dunfermline slipped behind to a Colin Cramb goal and from then the players gave up the ghost as Albion notched another 2 goals as easily as kids playing trick or treat on kind grannies.

So a dismal defeat to sum up what has so far been a dismal season. So who is to blame? Questions were raised over the future of Stephen Kenny, and the board have backed him and I must say I am pleased. While questions can be raised over tactics and team selections, I don't think he is to blame for all of our problems. For too long, the players have escaped criticism and they are ultimately the ones who have got us into this mess. On Saturday, it didn't hurt them enough and most of them, except Stevie Crawford, didn't look like they cared or could be bothered trying. If thats the case, NO MANAGER could turn it around.

Kenny has been busy trying to right so many wrongs at the club, the shambles of a youth set up for a start. But I believe there are factors behind the scenes which are preventing him doing his job properly, which leads me to the announcement that Scott Thomson has been stripped of the captaincy to be replaced by Scott Wilson.

The official line is that Thomson is injured too much, but the cynical part of me thinks that rumours that Thomson has been trying to undermine the manager could be true. If so, get those responsible out the club. We need a squad committed to playing for the jersey and for the manager. We also need the manager to have full control over everything at the club.

Kenny has achieved success at his previous clubs by building young, hungry sides eager to impress. He will turn it around here if given the chance.

We have to be realistic. Promotion this term will not happen. A Scottish Cup run, Challenge Cup win and consolidation should be the aim. Let Kenny dismantle the squad and reshape it as he sees fit and lets rebuild for next season. Dismissing yet another manager is not only not good for continuity, but it will merely paper over the cracks the squad of players we have aren't good enough/interested.

This season has been a horror show for the Pars, but we have to get behind Kenny. This is a man who has great ambitions for Dunfermline, wants to reshape the club from top to bottom and has been able to reach out and interact with the fans in a way not seen at East End since Bert Paton.

I say give him time, give him support and a free reign and he will deliver. The only way is up!