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Passing resemblance in Dunfermline FC’s SPL approach

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Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre had promised to take the Pars’ passing game up to the SPL with them next season.

Widely recognised as producing some of the most attractive football in their league on the way to securing the first division championship, the Fifers won’t be changing their philosophy when they kick off in the top flight on July 23.

After the title party and trophy presentation at East End Park on Saturday when Falkirk visit, McIntyre will continue working towards assembling a side to challenge in the SPL.

Whoever is in that squad, though, will be asked to play in the same free-flowing style that has been used to clinch promotion this time around.

“I have been really pleased with our style of play over the season,” said McIntyre. “We get the ball down and pass it at a high tempo.

“Pitches have improved in the last month and it has been significant just how much that has helped us.

“When the surfaces were really poor during the bad weather it was difficult for us to play our normal game. We had to adapt to that and it was pleasing that we managed it.

“The players have been fantastic since the home defeat against Morton when we gifted the opposition three goals.

“We spoke about it then and said there are not many more of these games we could give away or we would blow our chance of the league.

“Since then, we have gone on a great unbeaten run including five wins in the last five games.

“So we will always try to pass the ball no matter what league we are in that is what I believe in.”

McIntyre knows the Bairns will be desperate to take the shine off Dunfermline’s celebrations on Saturday by beating them but he is backing his men to end their season on a high note.

“It is nice to be going into this game having made sure we looked after our own result last weekend at Morton,” he added.

“It was great to get the win we knew would make us champions but we still want to finish the season with a win over Falkirk. We are undefeated against them and we want that to continue.

“Our fans will be there in huge numbers and I am sure there will be a carnival atmosphere, with the supporters enjoying themselves. They will still want us to win the game, though, and the players know that.

“Falkirk will be out to spoil our day, and rightly so from their point of view. At the start of the season we could have looked at the last match against Falkirk as being a big one but we just concentrated on one game at a time and have managed to pick up the right results.”

McIntyre will collect the silverware after full time but he revealed he may have to wait until he is lying on a beach on a well-earned holiday before the impact of what he has achieved really hits home.

“There is a feeling of great relief but, to be honest at the moment I am more pleased for other people than myself because of what it means to them,” he said.

“It will maybe sink in in a few weeks’ time just what a great achievement it is for everyone connected with the club and I will take a lot of pride from that.

“But you do not get a chance to sit still. Plans are already being made for next year.

“I have had talks with the chairman and I will be meeting him again later and we should know more by next week.”

Callum Woods will miss the Falkirk match with a groin problem.

Meanwhile, Martin Hardie’s driving ambition to keep playing at a high level despite injury setbacks were rewarded at Hampden on Thursday as he was presented with the Irn-Bru Phenomenal Player of the Month for April.

The 35-year-old, who has battled back from a cruciate knee injury, said, “It has been a strange year in that I was at three clubs and only played for two of them.

“I went out on loan to Partick Thistle from St Johnstone to get some games after my knee injury and things were going well there until I picked up an injury in my other knee.

“My contract at Perth ran out in January and I was wondering what would happen next.

“I have now picked up my fourth championship-winning medal and ended the season as player of the month, so it has certainly been a strange time that has ended really well.”