By Ian Roache

AUSTRALIAN COACH Graham Arnold has emerged as a dark horse candidate for the vacant Dunfermline job.

Just as Stephen Kenny arrived out of left field the last time the Pars were looking for a manager, so Arnold has been unveiled as a potential successor to the Irishman.

One of Australia’s top strikers in his playing days, he worked under the respected Guus Hiddink when the Socceroos reached the 2006 World Cup finals and is currently assistant to another Dutchman, Pim Verbeek, at the national team.

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston is aware of his interest as the first division strugglers pull out all the stops to make sure they get the right man.

Despite the Pars’ second-bottom position in the league, Yorkston and director of football Jim Leishman have sifted through a long list of applicants that was substantially narrowed down after Tuesday’s two-hour board meeting.

Former England and Rangers captain Terry Butcher is another in the frame, along with Australian A-League Central Coast Mariners coach Ian Ferguson, Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn and John Robertson, who has just been released from his contract at Irish side Derry City.

Robertson’s departure from Derry means he is now readily available and that is an option Dunfermline will be looking at closely.

Pars striker Jim McIntyre, who was in charge of the team for the 1-1 draw against Clyde, will be in the dugout again with coach Craig Robertson for Saturday’s match with Partick Thistle at Firhill, and that pairing is another possibility.