Dunfermline’s Andy Geggan ‘despises’ play-offs

Dunfermline’s Andy Geggan admits he despises the play-offs as he desperately attempts to avoid a second successive relegation from the First Division.

The 26-year-old found the net for former club Ayr United against Airdrie United at this stage last season, but a 3-1 aggregate defeat banished his team to the Second Division. Amid the brutal cost-cutting following relegation, Geggan was one of the lucky ones, being snapped up by Jim Jefferies at Dunfermline – seemingly to be part of a promotion push.

However, following the financial meltdown at East End Park, which saw the Pars deducted 15 points as punishment for plunging into administration, the situation has become deja vu all over again for the combative midfielder. Dunfermline now must overturn a 3-1 deficit from Wednesday’s play-off semi-final first leg against Forfar, who finished fourth in the Second Division, to retain any hope of being a First Division club next term.

“I despise the play-offs, I absolutely hate them,” said Geggan. “I know how it feels to go down in this way, and you have to take that disappointment as a motivation, you never want to experience that again.

“I think it is even tougher when you are the First Division team fighting to stay up. The sides from the division below have a season of momentum behind them, battling near the top of the table, and they are hungry to get promotion. It is a dogfight for the team trying to avoid relegation.

“You also don’t know what to expect from the lower league sides. You obviously do your homework, but you don’t face them week-in, week-out and they can raise their game, so there can be a surprise.”