Chairman Bob Garmory concedes Allan Johnston is under huge pressure to get Dunfermline promoted next season but insists the new Pars boss is just the man for the job.
The East End Park outfit expect to have made a massive £250,000 loss in the last 12 months as their bid to return to the Championship fell flat.
John Potter took over from Jim Jefferies midway through the campaign but the full-time Fifers failed to even secure a play-off place.
He has been demoted back to his previous coaching role and was replaced by ex-Kilmarnock and Queen of the South manager Johnston on Friday.
The Pars have warned they cannot afford their current commitments if they stay in League One beyond next summer and could be forced to go part-time if Johnston does not take them back up next term.
But Garmory, who headed the community buy-out of the club following administration in 2013, has backed Johnston to succeed.
He said: “Let’s be quite candid. The season just gone was a massive disappointment for everyone associated with the club.
“We’ve got money left in the bank but not as much as we had
“So, there is pressure on Allan’s shoulders but John (Potter) had pressure on his shoulders and Allan will have felt pressure at the clubs he’s been at in the past as a player or, indeed, as a manager.
“And when you speak to the man it’s obvious he understands the pressure that is going to be brought to bear on him.
“I’m not saying he’s welcoming it but he understands that pressure is going to have to be dealt with.”