Dunfermline striker Andy Kirk admits all eyes are on today’s crucial board meeting when manager Jim Jefferies will learn his budget for next season.
The Pars have 18 players coming to the end of their contracts and Jefferies knows he will have to reduce his squad size as they prepare for life in the first division following a brief dalliance with the SPL.
Chairman John Yorkston revealed prior to Saturday’s defeat to Kilmarnock in the last game of the season that the pool will be cut from 28 to 22 in a bid to compensate for the investable drop in revenue as a result of their relegation.
Kirk has the safety net of a deal that runs until summer 2013 but even he is not taking his contract for granted as the club gets ready to make swingeing cuts.
Kirk, who has netted 12 goals this season, said: ”There is always the financial element that comes into it, especially when you drop down a league.
”There are a lot of guys out of contract as you know. We just have to wait and see. The manager will find what his budget is, who he can keep and who’ll be going.
”We’ll have to wait and see what the outcome of the meeting is and take it from there. I’ve played here for three seasons in the first division and worked really hard to get out of it. If I stay here hopefully we can do the same and bounce back up again.”
Kirk was brought to Scotland by Jefferies when he signed for Hearts in 1999 and the Ulsterman is in no doubt that he is the right man to guide Dunfermline back to the top flight.
The marksman added: ”He has enough experience to get this club back up. He knows the game inside out. He knows what type of player it will take to get us up and what way he wants to play.”
Dunfermline made a bright start in a game that saw Jefferies make seven changes from the team that was defeated at Easter Road last week.
Paul Willis put the hosts in front after 19 minutes when he side-footed Joe Cardle’s free-kick into the net following a flick from Liam Buchanan.
But Jefferies’ side eventually caved in after the break following incessant pressure. Liam Kelly equalised with a well-executed drive from outside the area in the 86th minute before youngster Jude Winchester turned in Lewis Toshney’s cut-back from close range three minutes later.