Ozzie's dream is a nightmare

"In the circumstances I tried my best to make myself available, to say I am disappointed is an understatement."

It could have been a dream ending to the season with a win in the penultimate game over your nearest rivals, instead it turned into a bit of a nightmare and an even greater one for the captain. A week ago Dunfermline took to the Easter Road playing surface looking for a win against the Scottish Cup finalists to give them a lifeline of hope in their struggle to stay in the SPL. As everyone knows the contest was over within the first quarter of an hour after Hibs had raced into a three goal lead.

The Pars defence was forced to shape up without Alex Keddie who was serving a one match ban. It was just the second game in the entire 38 match schedule that the 31 year old was to miss. The suspension left Manager Jim Jefferies with few options; Kevin Rutkiewicz was out for the season, John Potter was out on loan and the only other centre half was 18 year old Kerr Young who has never moved off the subs bench that he had occupied during 22 games this season. Austin McCann had filled in that role for Jim McIntyre and no doubt Gerry McCabe was offering his new gaffer that knowledge.

The major problem and what was to turn out to be a big gamble gone wrong was that Club captain Austin had incurred a training ground injury on the Saturday before the game that had made it extremely difficult for him to walk on the day after. Ozzie related the events:-

"With the situation as it was with no other defenders I thought I'd give it the chance. I took an injection before the game but literally in the first tackle my hip just went. It wasn't great and the game didn't go well for myself as I tried to battle on to half time. It was a bad night for me personally; I took the gamble and it backfired."

A scan in the days following the game revealed that Austin had two tears in his hip muscle. Not the best start to a summer break where he is out of contract and maybe left to try and find another employer. One more wage to come and possibly seven weeks out through injury.

"I took a chance and it didn't work out. In my first sliding tackle on O'Connor I felt my hip groin area go again. It wasn't great but it is no excuse and I am disappointed with the way the game went on Monday night. It is done and dusted now but it is a decision in going to play that I regret making.

"If I hadn't played and it was still the same result I'd be looking back saying that I should have given it a chance. In the circumstances I tried my best to make myself available, to say I am disappointed is an understatement."

After 149 appearances for the Pars, the first half against Hibs could end up being the 32 year old's last for Dunfermline.

"It would be a sad way to go after four great years here. Jim McIntyre obviously had to slash the budget so it took us two or three years to get a side together that could go up. It was a long time in coming but when it did come it was a great feeling. To go up last year was a great achievement but it is disappointing this year as well to go back down. If I get offered the chance to help the team get back in the SPL I will take it but it is not a decision for me to make. I'd love to stay at the club, hopefully they can bounce right back up next year with or without me."