Nicky Clark has revealed how finding a solution to Dunfermline’s stuttering season has become a family affair.
The 25-year-old’s strike against St Mirren last weekend earned the Pars their first victory in seven matches and just their third in the league all term.
It has been a frustrating campaign for the team that won the League One title at a canter and were promoted with such high expectations.
And Clark – who returned north in August after a short spell with Bury to team up again with dad Sandy, the Dunfermline assistant – insists the whole family have been racking their brains to come up with a winning formula.
The former Queen of the South attacker, who won 3-0 at Buckie with Rangers in pre-season two years ago, added: “Dad and I have had a couple of wee ‘words’ here and there in the last few games when it’s not been going too well, but nothing crazy.
“We’ve just been talking football – and my mum gets an input as well.
“I like to have it. As a football family I’ve had it all my life and when the two of us are at the same team we can talk about it in training and stuff.
“It’s good to have that – and there’s been no big fall-outs yet!”
After grabbing a pick-me-up in the league last weekend, Dunfermline head into today’s Scottish Cup encounter with free-scoring Highland League leaders Buckie Thistle seeking to build some momentum.
The cup served up a disappointing end to Clark’s Rangers career last season – but he is hoping it can now help kick-start the Pars’ campaign.
Clark was a late substitute at Hampden in May when Rangers were hit with a sucker-punch as Hibs clinched a historic 3-2 triumph in dramatic circumstances.
He said: “I was hoping to go out on a high with Rangers. It was obviously my last game there, but it wasn’t to be.
“It’s a great day getting to a cup final and it was a great day to start with – but it didn’t end too well.
“I came on towards the end but it didn’t work out the way we hoped.
“But hopefully we can get through this round and see what happens with Dunfermline.
“It was a big result for us last weekend. We got the three points, which were massive for us, and we’ll take confidence from that and hopefully kick on.”
The Pars headed to the Highlands yesterday to cut down on travelling time today and to ensure they prepare in a professional manner.
Clark added: “We know it’ll be tough, we know we can’t just turn up and expect to win. We know we’ll need to go and work hard and they’ll be desperate for an upset.
“But I’m sure if we do everything right we’ll get through to the next round.”
