Brown helping out Jefferies at Dunfermline

BILLY Brown is back beside long-term sidekick Jim Jefferies at Dunfermline, but only on a voluntary basis – unless the Pars are readmitted to the SPL.

Brown, who was sacked by Hearts along with Jefferies last August, was told recently that his contract would not be renewed at Hibs after spending almost all of last season across the Edinburgh football divide.

The 61-year-old, who was originally appointed to help out Colin Calderwood, was expecting to be kept on at Easter Road after assisting Pat Fenlon following his arrival in November, but finances were blamed for his departure.

A lack of money – and the Pars’ retention of No 2 Gerry McCabe – is also a barrier to Brown remaining at East End Park in the long-term. However, Jefferies’ old school friend, who has assisted him for over two decades, is keen to continue putting in the hours on the training pitch, where he has also been joined voluntarily by the former Rangers, Hearts and Scotland winger Neil McCann.

Jefferies has welcomed the added support as he puts his threadbare squad through their paces in anticipation of a decision on the club’s future that will provide clarity on a number of issues ahead of the new campaign.

He said: “Billy gave me a phone to tell me what had happened at Hibs and he offered his services. During pre-season you’re putting on double shifts and things like that and it’s good to have extra support and different ideas.

“I told him it was very good of him, but he understands that finances dictate it can only be voluntary at the moment.

“It’s the same with Neil, who has come in a couple of times over the last year and who wants to get himself into the coaching side of things. They’re coming in and helping the players to get as fit as possible.

“Who knows what will happen with the SPL place and so on and it’s not something we’ve really discussed, but if we get into the Premier League then it obviously makes the budgets all that much better.”