SPL fanzone: Dunfermline

There is one question which must haunt every manager who takes his team from the First Division up to the SPL. Are there some players who will not cope at this level? Eighties legend John Watson told me he walked away from Dunfermline on securing the Championship in 1989 as he wanted to be remembered by the fans for his exploits in Divisions 1 and 2. You look at today’s Pars team playing ponderously against Motherwell and you just know it can’t be long till the speedy Thomson and Willis are introduced along with midfielder Craig Easton who seldom wastes a pass, Kevin Rutkiewicz whose domination in the 18-yard box is unequalled, and eventually, the much missed Steven Bell. In the meantime we look forward to our first match in years with Kilmarnock. Can we do another smash and grab as we did at Perth and Dundee? The Hardie boys are on the case.

John Lloyd