Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre has his sights trained on the first division title even though he suspects the race for promotion to the SPL will been more keenly contested than ever.
The Pars finished last term 15 points adrift of winners Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
This time around McIntyre expects to take more of a hand in the battle to escape Division One but recognises it’s likely to be a genuine scrap involving several protagonists.
“We’re in it to win it,” he said.
“But it’s going to be a really tight league. I can’t see anyone running away with the title this year.
“For me, there are four or five teams who could lift it.”
This will be McIntyre’s third full season in charge of the Pars but arguably the first in which he’s had a fair chance of mounting a championship challenge.
For two years running Dunfermline have finished third, 14 points behind St Johnstone in 2008-2009 and then slightly further adrift of ICT last term.Under-achievingBut behind that apparent under-achieving is a background of the manager having had to contend with a string of top players departing owing to budget cuts.
This summer has seen Stephen Glass, Graham Bayne, Scott Muirhead, Greg Ross and Graeme Holmes join the exodus.
But Pat Clarke, Chris Smith, Alex Keddie and Kyle Allison have been signed.
And more importantly, because of economic reality biting elsewhere, the Pars look to have a group of players capable of competing.
“It’s a genuinely level playing field this season,” agreed McIntyre, “We’re all in the same boat squad-wise.
“Given the numbers, keeping your key players clear of injury and suspension will be vital.
“Beyond that it’s really just going to be a case of doing the right things.”
McIntyre agrees that in the case of Dunfermline that means getting out of the blocks faster than last term when they won just two of their first seven games.
“It’s crucial we get off to a good start,” he said.
“Last season we started slowly and were left playing catch up.Unbeaten”And even though we then went on an unbeaten eight match run it seemed like we hardly moved up the table.
“We also need to add consistency to our campaign and I’m hopeful we can do that.
“We’ve kept the nucleus of last year’s squad and therefore the group know what it’s about,” he added.
“The players here realise that on their day they can beat anybody it’s just a matter of doing it on a more regular basis.”
The fact they have derbies against Raith Rovers, Cowdenbeath and Falkirk to contend with could act against Dunfermline’s quest for consistency given such fixtures are invariably keenly contested.
But McIntyre would rather be playing near at hand away games, especially when they have extra spice.
“I actually welcome the number of these sort of matches we are facing,” he said.
“I don’t see having Raith Rovers, Cowdenbeath and Falkirk to play as a negative at all.
“For me these are better games than maybe Ayr United or Inverness away.
“The big crowds, the build up, the atmosphere these are the kind of things players thrive on.”