Published: Thursday, 8th January, 2009 12:30pm

Pars boss McIntyre closes in on first window signing

by Simon Harris

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THE Pars could end the first week of the January transfer window with their first signing.

Jim McIntyre just missed out on landing his first target before last Saturday"s Dundee match but the manager is hopeful of finally securing the mystery man this week.

McIntyre has been given the go-ahead to strengthen during the window by the East End board after injuries and illness have left the first-team pool looking threadbare.

Winger Kevin Harper had an operation to repair a torn cartilage in his knee yesterday (Wednesday) meaning around six weeks on the sidelines.

And with fellow wide man Simon Wiles out for a lengthy spell, McIntyre is desperately short of attacking width with Greg Ross and Nick Phinn both playing out of position in recent games to fill in the wide berths.

Graham Bayne was missed badly in the 1-0 defeat at Dens Park after the big striker suffered a bout of food poisoning and with McIntyre himself facing a prolonged absence with a calf tear, the manager is also struggling for options up front.

Athletic are still in contention for the first division title at the halfway stage, in second spot, five points behind leaders St Johnstone.

But McIntyre has always admitted his side could struggle if they suffered a bad run of injuries given the lack of cover at his disposal.

'We"ve had a couple of injuries and we are short,' he said. 'We are asking players to play out of position, like Greg Ross on the right and Nick Phinn on the left.

"Nick"s done well on the left side and has scored a couple of goals from out on the left.

'We thought we had someone last week but it"s been put back. They (the other club) were looking at bringing other players in. We were hoping to have him in for Saturday but I"m very much hoping it will happen this week. If it doesn"t we"ll just need to move on.'

McIntyre is hoping to bring in at least two new players to freshen things up after one of the Pars" worst performances of the season – the manager described his side"s attacking display as 'powder puff' after the final whistle.

Asked about what options he had to change things ahead of their next matches, against Clyde at home this Saturday in the fourth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup and then at home to Airdrie in the league, McIntyre said, 'At the end of the day it was the first game in which we"ve been beaten away since the opening day of the season.

'I think if you"d have offered me that before the start of the season I"d have taken it.

'At the same time, there"s got to be a realisation that there was an opportunity to close the gap and we"ve not done it.

'We"ve spoken about that and the boys know my thoughts on it.

'They know what needs to be done and we"re not going to get a lot of opportunities to close the gap.

'The bottom line is that we"re five points behind with 17 games to go. We can"t afford to pass up too many more opportunities if we want a chance to be in with a shout at the end of the season.'

Season tickets are not valid for Saturday"s Homecoming Scottish Cup fourth round tie at home to Clyde.

Ticket prices are £10 for adults and £5 concessions. The main, west wing and Norrie McCathie stands will be open to Pars fans for the match.