As talks continue with Neil Lennon, Dunfermline remain optimistic of retaining the services of the former Celtic and Hibernian manager for next season.
Charged with keeping the club in the Championship when he took over on a short-term deal for the final seven matches of the season, the Northern Irishman steered the Pars to seventh in the table.
Chairman and chief executive David Cook revealed almost a fortnight ago that the Fifers were ‘hopeful’ of finalising negotiations to keep Lennon – who has since been on holiday – and assistant Iain Brunskill in place.
He also said they were ready to ‘have a go’ at promotion this summer with wealthy new owners James Bord and Evan Sofer at the helm.
However, with 14 players that finished the campaign released, and a further six ‘in dialogue’ with the club about their futures, what kind of squad will Lennon have and what areas will he need to strengthen if he does stay on?
Courier Sport has taken a look at those who remain at East End Park.
A new goalkeeper
One of the most pressing positions to sort out will be the goalkeeper.
Incredibly, predecessor James McPake was left with just one available player between the sticks – Deniz Mehmet – during all four of the Premier Sports Cup group matches.
A repeat cannot happen.
Even for the opening two league games, 17-year-old Lewis Briggs was the back-up before Tobi Oluwayemi was brought in on loan from Celtic.
This summer, Mehmet is again last man standing, with Oluwayemi having gone back to Celtic and Briggs released.
Lennon will be eager to get a dependable new number one sorted as quickly as possible to have certainty in the last line of defence.
Should Mehmet decide that, at 32, he does not want another season sitting on the bench – and his 15-minute cameo in the last game against Morton was seen by some as a farewell – then Lennon will need two new keepers.
Defensive options
With Aaron Comrie, Rhys Breen and loan duo Tommy Fogarty and Andre Raymond departing, Dunfermline are short on numbers at the back.
Comrie’s exit at the end of his deal may suggest Lennon might stick with a back three next term and is in need of wing-backs rather than traditional full-backs.
Kieran Ngwenya and the versatile Ewan Otoo provide options down the left and Kane Ritchie-Hosler and new signing Keith Bray are possibilities on the right.
But it may be Lennon would prefer out-and-out wing-backs for Dunfermline rather than wingers or midfielders whose preference would be to play elsewhere.
At the heart of the defence, Kyle Benedictus finished the season in resolute form but is now 33, whilst Sam Fisher and Sam Young were both farmed out on loan in the second half of the campaign and face an uncertain summer.
The Pars are expected to exercise their option to re-sign Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen but there is the potential for at least another two central defenders to arrive.
Middle men
All might depend here on what happens with the players who are in discussions over fresh terms.
Three of them – Chris Hamilton, Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Victor Wanyama – are central midfielders.
With Otoo still under contract and youngster Andrew Tod highly regarded, it may be deemed there are priorities in other areas of the team.
However, there are likely to be plenty of free agents this summer who could boost the quality available to Lennon at Dunfermline.
On the flanks, there is only really Ritchie-Hosler who fits the bill if the Pars want to deploy wingers, making this a likely consideration.
Matty Todd failed to reach his high standards this season but there will be hope he can rediscover his best and provide an option in an attacking midfield position. Likewise, if he stays on, Josh Cooper can fulfil that role.
But more creativity – from wide and the heart of the team – is desperately needed following a dismal season in front of goal.
Striking deficiencies
With just 28 goals from 36 league games this term, it is clear where the Pars’ problems lie.
Despite improvements under Lennon, Dunfermline still failed to score in their last three matches. In fact, they only netted twice in Lennon’s seven games in charge.
With seven goals in 15 league outings since the appointment in January of Lennon’s predecessor, Michael Tidser, a drastic turnaround is required.
When fit, Chris Kane is one of the best strikers in the division and the Fifers will need to find a way to keep the former St Johnstone player injury-free.
Beyond him, Connor Young is highly rated but untested at Championship level, whilst Taylor and Jake Sutherland also still have much to prove, and Lewis McCann is out of contract and currently recovering from hamstring surgery.
Every club will be searching for one, but Dunfermline could do with two forwards capable of delivering double figures in the scoring charts if they are to fulfil ambitions.
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