Dunfermline boss John Potter says he is delighted to have stolen a march on the club’s promotion rivals by snapping up his three new signings.
The transfer window began with the capture of defender Jim Paterson from fellow title chasers Forfar, but Potter’s manoeuvring in the market continued this week as he signed Andy Barrowman from Morton and former Rangers man Kyle McAusland, who had most recently been on loan at Brechin.
All three could have stayed put with their respective clubs, but Potter hopes the addition of the trio will be viewed as a statement of intent as they strive to gain promotion to the Championship.
“Since I first got the job I wanted to bring Andy in, but it probably took a bit longer than we thought,” he explained yesterday.
“But I’m happy that he’s in, and Kyle’s the same.
“He came up and we were impressed with him when he trained with us earlier on in the year, but it just couldn’t happen at that time.
“So when we knew we had a chance of getting him, we went in for him and we didn’t have to negotiate really he was happy to come here.
“As soon as Andy knew of our interest he was desperate to come back.
“There was no negotiating with the pair of them really, we told them what we could offer and they came straight away.
“Both of them were probably on more money where they were but it’s still a pull for players to come to a club like Dunfermline.
“I’m just delighted to get the two of them in.”
McAusland was better known as a defender at Rangers, although Potter revealed yesterday that he sees the 21-year-old playing higher up the pitch.
He continued: “When he was here playing before he liked playing as a strong defensive midfielder.
“He went to Brechin and played 10 or 11 games and he’s telling me he scored three goals so he thinks he can get forward as well.
“He obviously can fill in different positions at the back but I see him here as a midfielder, just something different that we’ve not got.
“He’s quite defensive minded, he’s aggressive and he’s got a good physicality about him, so he gives us something extra in the middle of the park.”
With three players in and a total of four out after the departure of Ross Drummond and Ross Forbes in the last week or so, Pars fans probably have not seen the last of Potter’s wheeling and dealing in the transfer window.
“There might be another one or two going out, and there might be another one or two coming in, so we’re just trying to change things about and get the players I want,” he concluded.
“The other ones I would like, the clubs know that we’re after them so it’s just a case of waiting to see what happens.
“I’m not in a major rush, I just want to get the ones I want in.”