PARS boss Jim Jefferies says that the club will be “actively trying to work” to strengthen his squad in January.

But he insists they won’t spend money they don’t have and urged supporters to stay patient with his team as they look to return to the top of the league at Peterhead on Saturday.

A scoreless draw with Forfar and a last-gasp reverse to Morton in their last two league matches led to murmurings of discontent among sections of the East End faithful but Sunday’s 4-1 rout of East Stirlingshire has boosted confidence ahead of the trip to Balmoor.

Jefferies told Press Sport that he is exploring all avenues to improve his side in the transfer window, citing the boost the arrival of Ross Forbes, Danny Grainger, Jonathan Page and Lawrence Shankland provided for the second half of last season.

He said, “I know the club’s not got the money but we are actively working behind the scenes to see if we can improve it.

"If some boys are not in the frame then they might come and see me in the transfer window; that happens at clubs where they want to try and play regularly.

“If someone asks me about a player then we’ll look at it and all sorts can happen – swaps, loans or getting someone who is out of contract.

“It’s not always a time of year where you can do well and I always say it’s better at the end of the season because more players are available.

"But I think it can give a wee lift and we got that last year.

“It’s alright wanting success but we’ve said all along we’re not going to do it overnight; we’ve got a young team and we need to improve it. I think we’re improving but people have to remember where this club was.

“We have to manage it in this way because if we don’t, we’ll be going back to the way it was before.

"We just need to be a little patient to get it right and we will.

"Fans are entitled to their opinions but I’d just say to get behind them because there’ll always be a Dunfermline this way rather than spending money for short-term gain.”