Dunfermline Athletic have parted company with boss Jim Jefferies after more than two-and-a-half years in charge.
Jefferies took the difficult decision to step down following board meetings on Monday where he was told the team’s current form was unacceptable, bringing to an end his somewhat eventful tenure at East End Park.
Youth team coach John Potter is expected to fill the role vacated by Jefferies, something that has been in the pipeline for some time, with assistant Neil McCann likely to stay on as Potter’s number two.
Jefferies (64), who replaced Jim McIntyre in 2012, arrived at East End Park with a good managerial pedigree, having led Hearts to the Scottish Cup in 1998 and enjoyed spells with the likes of Kilmarnock, Falkirk and Bradford before a second spell at Tynecastle.
He was unable to keep the Pars in the SPL in his first season in charge, and then any hopes of promotion back to the top flight were ultimately dashed when the Fife club fell into administration amid serious financial difficulties.Jefferies why it was time to step downCosts were cut back and Jefferies effectively had to work on a shoestring budget, while the 15-point deduction the club suffered by way of sanctions left them fighting against relegation.
All that took its toll and the Pars slipped down another league, although Jefferies rebuilt the team with an emphasis on youth in the hope of bouncing back at the first attempt.
However, a play-off final defeat to Cowdenbeath stopped the Pars from returning to the Championship last season, and there were warnings that the club may have to go part-time next season should they fail to achieve promotion this time around.
The Pars had a reasonable start to the season but defeat to Stranraer in last week’s Scottish Cup replay denied them a lucrative fifth round tie at home to Dundee United, and a 3-1 loss in the league at Airdrieonians has seen them fall to fourth spot in the table.
Jefferies had previously indicated his intention to hand the reins over to Potter and McCann at the end of this season, but results and yesterday’s subsequent board meeting have hastened his departure.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Courier.