MORTON striker Andy Barrowman admits he didn’t want to leave Dunfermline when the club plunged into administration last year.

The 29-year-old was one of seven first-team stars who lost their jobs in March 2013 as a savage cost-cutting operation to save Athletic from financial oblivion began, and ripped apart a squad that had been challenging for the First Division crown.

More than a year and a half later, Barrowman will make his first return to East End as a player on Saturday attempting to derail his former club’s promotion push.

But he told Press Sport he was delighted to see the Pars prospering as a fan-owned club.

He said, “We had a really good bunch of boys at the club and it was unfortunate the way it went because I felt we had a good thing going on there. We’ll never know what might’ve been for us if it hadn’t happened but you have to move on with your life and I think an experience like that makes you stronger.

“I didn’t want to leave the club at the time but that’s in the past now and I have no regrets.

“Of course I wanted them to get back as it’s a great club that has a lot of good people working there at all levels who were affected by it all as well.

“I’ve been back a couple of times to watch games but this will be the first time since I’ll have been back as a player so I’m looking forward to it.

“East End is a place I always enjoyed playing at and these are the games as a player that you should enjoy.

“I said after the game at Cappielow that whoever finishes above Dunfermline will win the league and I still believe that.” After leaving the Pars, Barrowman enjoyed a short stint at Dundee and spent last season with Livingston before agreeing to join Jim Duffy’s relegated side in the summer.

He had been linked with a return to Athletic before they captured Michael Moffat, but he laughed, “I couldn’t possibly comment on that! I had a few injuries last season but I’ve managed to play the last six games so I’m enjoying just playing. It’s more enjoyable when you’re winning and we need to try and be more consistent. We went from the high of beating Dunfermline to losing two games on the bounce and although people put ourselves and Dunfermline down as favourites because we’re full-time, it is proving a difficult league. As a young team, we need to learn quickly.

“Dunfermline are a young side but have been together for the best part of two seasons. Most of the boys were there when I was at the club so it will be good to see some friendly faces on the playing and coaching staff.

“But I’m a Morton player and we’ll be out to get the three points as we need to claw back some points on Dunfermline and Forfar.”