A Ross County side fired up by a former manager returning to a dug-out for the first time this season is probably the last type of opponent Dunfermline would have chosen for Saturday afternoon, but that’s exactly what they’re going to get.
The Dingwall club have unveiled ex-Pars boss Jimmy Calderwood as their replacement for the sacked Willie McStay until the end of the season, and the East End Park clash is the first instalment of a Dunfermline against Ross County four-day double-header.
Current Pars boss Jim McIntyre said, “It will obviously add extra spice to the occasion.
“It was the same when we played his Aberdeen team in the Scottish Cup a couple of years ago.”
He added, “This game would have been difficult enough even before you take into account the Jimmy Calderwood factor, because I don’t feel they’ve got the results that you would expect from their squad of players.
“Obviously, with the postponed match up in Dingwall being rearranged for Tuesday, we’ve now got them back to back. But they’ll be two totally different games.”
Calderwood admitted that he could stay at County for the long term after being appointed manager until the end of the season.
He has been without a job since saving Kilmarnock from relegation in a short-term post last season and has been handed the same target by the first division side’s chairman Roy MacGregor.’Very exciting’Calderwood said, “I was obviously out the game this season. There were a few things that I thought might be happening, all abroad, and never materialised.
“I’m not one for sitting about the house.
“People that have been up here and I have a lot of respect for Craig Brewster, Alex Smith, Dick Campbell have always spoke very highly of the club, the set-up and facilities.
“The chairman is a very successful businessman but his enthusiasm and plans for the club are very exciting.”
He added, “We’ll have a look at each other until the end of the season and we’ll see what happens.
“It gets me out training again, which is what I love. It’s my life and it’s difficult being on the outside looking in.”
Meanwhile, McIntyre revealed that winger Paul Willis has been loaned to second division Ayr United for a month.