Published: Thursday, 7th May, 2009 11:50am

D-day for Pars as Macca set to wield axe

by Matt Meade

Comments (3) | Print | Email

IT"S D-day for Pars" underperforming players who will find out this morning (Thursday) if they face the axe from East End Park.

Boss Jim McIntyre said a 'vastly reduced' budget means several stars will be dumped as the club seeks to strengthen the squad to push for promotion in the 2009/2010 season.

Dunfermline cemented third place in the league after a solid 2-1 home victory over Morton on Tuesday night and will remain one of the favourites to secure entry into the SPL for the forthcoming campaign.

However, McIntyre acknowledged the difficulty of regaining a top place spot in next season"s title race without adequate finances.

Speaking to Press Sport after the game he said, 'It"s a case that there will be further cuts, it"s as simple as that.

'The budget will be reduced from last year, vastly reduced.

'Everybody"s cutting back and we"re no different.

'We"ll look to make some signings come the summer and have just got to make do, wheel and deal and find a wee gem out there.

'We"ve had a budget meeting and the players who are to leave will be told on Thursday.'

Captain Scott Wilson, who heads to Australia in the summer, could have played his last ever game on Tuesday as an ankle injury he picked up might prevent him from Saturday"s final match against Clyde.

As reported in last week"s Press Sport, Scott Thomson, Greg Ross, Iain Williamson, Kevin Harper and Callum Reidford are all out of contract.

Loan stars Jamie Mole and Rory Loy will head back to their respective clubs, Hearts and Rangers.

Only midfielders Nicky Phinn and Calum Woods have so far signed new contracts, with Stephen Glass and Greg Shields earning extensions to their existing deals.

Former Airdrie midfielder Joe Cardle has also signed a pre-contract deal to join in the summer.

It means fans could see a greatly altered squad for next season in one of the biggest shake-ups in the club"s recent history.